PRESS RELEASE
7th January 2026
Oyo, Oyo State.
OYO DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (ODC) CONDEMNS KILLING OF NATIONAL PARK RANGERS AND CALLS FOR JUSTICE AND ENHANCED SECURITY
The Oyo Development Council (ODC) expresses profound sorrow over the killing of five National Park Rangers by unknown gunmen within the National Park area in Oyo State. We condemn this cruel and unacceptable attack on officers who were performing their lawful duty of safeguarding our natural resources and protecting surrounding communities.
We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased Rangers, the National Park Service, and their colleagues. Their service and sacrifice are deeply valued, and we stand in solidarity with all who mourn their loss.
Given the historic significance of this landscape to the Yoruba people, we affirm that an attack on the Old Oyo National Park is an attack on the entire Yoruba heritage and its global community. The area forms part of the ancient Old-Oyo Empire territory, once the seat of Yoruba civilization under the Alaafin of Oyo, and still bears the cultural and historical imprints of that era.
We commend the ongoing efforts and immediate intervention of the Oyo State Governor His Excellence Governor Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State Police Command and other security Agencies and urge a thorough, intelligence-driven investigation to ensure that the perpetrators are identified and brought before the law. Strengthening security within and around the Park is essential to protect both human lives and invaluable heritage.
Recognizing the ancestral connection of this territory, ODC supports constructive dialogue on heritage co-governance involving the Alaafin of Oyo in collaboration with relevant federal authorities. This approach is consistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the National Parks Service Act, the Land Use Act, the UNESCO Convention on World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, all of which recognize the role of traditional custodians in the preservation of heritage landscapes.
At this solemn moment, our priority is clear: to mourn the fallen, support their families, and allow security agencies to complete their investigations. Broader developmental discussions, including any long-term heritage or tourism initiatives, will be approached only at the appropriate time and with full respect for the gravity of this tragedy.
The Oyo Development Council reiterates its commitment to peace, security, cultural dignity, and the preservation of Yoruba heritage. May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may justice be served with fairness and firmness.
Signed:
Ayobami Sodiq (President)
Oyo Development Council (ODC)
For further information:
Please kindly contact ODC through the following phone numbers.
+234 803 827 8196
+234 816 565 0718