By Adeyinka Adeniran
Residents of Oloka Village, Orire local government Area of Oyo State, the host community of the National Park Service have continued to desert the village.
Despite the presence of heavy security operatives the residents said they have not recovered from the psychological trauma and disbelief that followed how bandit stormed and attack the peaceful village.
A source who was contacted said while some residents are leaving for neighborung communities, some others are still afraid but summoning courage to stay back with the presence of security operatives.
The Nation reports that, no fewer than five Forest Guards were killed on Tuesday when suspected bandits stormed the National Park Service Office shooting sporadically at the officers on duty.
Speaking, the source who pleaded anonymity said Oloka streets are currently empty and houses are put under lock and key, as commercial and social activities completely disrupted.
Residents who spoke on the incident expressed deep fear and uncertainty, lamenting that the attack had crippled their livelihoods and forced families to seek refuge in neighbouring communities.
They appealed to the state government and security agencies to urgently establish permanent security posts in Oloka to prevent a recurrence of such attacks.
Chairman of Orire Local Government Area, Mr. Micheal Alabi, assured residents that decisive steps are being taken to address the security situation.
He said the local government is working round the clock to rejig the security architecture and restore peace in the area.
The Nation reports that Oyo State Police Command recovered the remains of five Forest Rangers who were killed on Wednesday.
The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, CP Femi Haruna led other security chiefs for an on-the spot assessment of the scene. He was accompanied by heads of sister security agencies and the Commandant of the National Forest Rangers.
To douse tension, the CP ordered that tactical teams including Mobile Police Force officer and EOD be deployed to the affected areas to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
Painting a picture of how the crime was committed, Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo Command, Ayanlade Olayinka said preliminary reports indicate that the attackers, numbering about 12, emerged from adjoining bushes, opened sporadic gunfire on the Rangers’ Office, and fled the scene.
He said investigation has commenced, and credible evidence is already yielding promising leads to aid the identification, arrest, and prosecution of those responsible.
Olayinka said contrary to some media reports, the attack was solely directed at the National Forest Rangers’ Office, but the swift, proactive deployment of police personnel prevented any further escalation in the surrounding community
