Fear has gripped residents of Oyo State’s Oke-Ogun zone following fresh attacks by suspected bandits along the Kishi-Igbeti and Igboho-Igbeti road corridors, leaving at least two persons dead and several others injured within 24 hours.
The latest incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Friday along the Kishi-Igbeti road when gunmen ambushed a moving vehicle and opened fire. An electricity worker identified as Moshood Kayode, popularly known as “Mr. Kay,” and one other person were killed, while other occupants sustained injuries.
On Saturday, another attack was reported along the Igboho-Igbeti axis near the Old Oyo National Park. Eyewitnesses said heavily armed men dressed in military camouflage suddenly emerged from the forest and began shooting at passing vehicles around 3:25 p.m.
Among the vehicles attacked were a red Volkswagen Golf and a commercial passenger bus, whose tyre was punctured by bullets. Four occupants of the Golf car, including the driver, Alhaji Rafiu Jimoh, and one Jubril Jelili, sustained serious gunshot wounds while travelling from Igbeti to Saki.
Despite their injuries, the victims reportedly managed to drive back to Igboho, where they were rushed to a hospital for treatment.
“We thought they were soldiers because of the camouflage they wore, but they suddenly started shooting at vehicles,” an eyewitness recounted.
Security personnel, including operatives of the police, NSCDC, Amotekun Corps and local forest guards, were deployed to the scene and later secured the area.
The attacks have intensified concerns over growing insecurity around the Old Oyo National Park, which residents allege has become a hideout for kidnappers and armed gangs.
Residents are now calling for urgent military and police operations to flush out criminal elements and restore safety along the troubled road corridors.
