The Ashipa of Ogbomosoland, Barrister Olusegun Adekunle, OON, KJW, has called for heightened vigilance, intelligence sharing and community ownership of security following a bandit attack on park rangers at Oloka Village, near the Old Oyo National Park.
In a statement made available to journalists, the Ashipa described the attack as painful and disturbing, noting that the rangers were killed while carrying out their lawful duties, an incident that has unsettled Ogbomosoland and neighbouring communities.
Barrister Adekunle said the attack once again exposed the persistent security challenges confronting communities around the Old Oyo National Park axis, an area that has witnessed recurrent security threats due to its vast forest reserves and porous boundaries. He, however, observed that security presence and surveillance have improved in the area since the incident.
He commended security agencies for their good but difficult task, stating in one breath that despite operating under hazardous conditions, they continue to make sacrifices to protect lives and property, and therefore deserve greater public support, cooperation and timely intelligence to enhance their effectiveness.
The Ashipa stressed that security must be seen as a collective responsibility, urging residents to remain vigilant, share credible intelligence promptly and shun any act that could aid criminal elements.
Situating the incident within the broader South-West security architecture, Barrister Adekunle noted that the attack underscored the importance of the regional security fund established by South-West governors to strengthen intelligence, logistics and coordinated responses across state boundaries.
He said sustained funding and transparent utilisation of the initiative remain critical to tackling emerging threats, particularly in border communities.
He also highlighted the role of the South-West Development Commission (SWDC) in complementing security efforts at the grassroots, stressing that enhanced community-level security is fundamental to boosting economic activities, especially farming, which remains the backbone of many rural communities in Ogbomosoland and its environs.
Ogbomosoland, he noted, occupies a strategic position as it shares a border with Kwara State, from where a series of security-related incidents have been reported in recent times, making cross-border collaboration and intelligence sharing imperative to curbing criminal movements.
Barrister Adekunle further praised traditional rulers across the five local government areas of Ogbomosoland for their stabilising roles, calling for stronger collaboration among them to mobilise communities, deepen grassroots intelligence and promote peace.
He offered prayers for the repose of the souls of the park rangers who lost their lives in the bandit attack and for divine comfort for their families, describing the fallen officers as heroes whose sacrifices should inspire unity and collective action against insecurity in the zone.
