PRESS RELEASE
Issued by the Office of His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo
Date: 10th January 2026
ALAAFIN OF OYO SOUNDS ALARM OVER OLOKA MASSACRE — DEMANDS MILITARY BASE AT OTEFON, FULL INVESTIGATION INTO OLD OYO NATIONAL PARK KILLINGS
His Imperial Majesty, IKU BABA YEYE, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, The Alaafin of Oyo — Keeper of the Throne, Shield of the Yoruba — today issued a thunderous condemnation of the brutal attack on Oloka village and the killing of civilians and rangers within Old Oyo National Park, declaring it an assault on Yoruba sovereignty and ancestral heritage. His Majesty also expressed sympathy with the families of the forest guards.
In a solemn proclamation read at the Imperial Court of Oyo, the Alaafin stated: “The recent brutal killings inside Old Oyo National Park — especially the massacre at Oloka — is not merely a ‘security breach.’ It is a dagger plunged into the heart of our ancestral empire. Our sacred forests, our game reserves, our historic grounds — where our kings once hunted with spears and drums — are now being turned into slaughter yards by armed marauders. THIS WILL NOT STAND.”
His Majesty has decreed the following actions:
– Official Condemnation: of the senseless murder of innocent civilians, rangers, and travelers in Old Oyo National Park — demanding a full, transparent investigation and immediate arrest of all perpetrators.
– Establishment of Military Base: designation of Otefon Village as a permanent _Armed Military Base of the kingdom_ — to fortify the region and secure the Oyo-Oduduwa corridor.
– Deployment of Yoruba Defense Force Battalion: under joint command of the Nigerian Army and traditional warrior chiefs — to patrol the park 24/7 and repel invaders.
– ✅ Federal Recognition: call on the President and Ministry of Defence to declare Otefon a _Strategic National Security Zone_ — and fund the construction of barracks, watchtowers, and a helipad within the next few months.
The Paramount Ruler, who described banditry and other security challenges facing the country as “gory, worrisome, and disturbing”, pointed out that security is critical to the survival of any nation to forestall lawlessness, chaos, and disorder. Oba Owoade lauded President Bola Tinubu’s demonstration, through actions, that ending insecurity is one of his administration’s foremost concerns.
“Our ancestors did not build empires to watch them crumble under banditry. We will rebuild the walls — not with mud, but with steel. Not with prayers alone, but with patrols. Not with silence — but with thunder.” — Alaafin of Oyo