Several operatives of Sunday Igboho’s private security outfit, Iru Ekun, were injured after suspected bandits staged a violent ambush inside the Old Oyo National Park during an anti‑banditry operation on Thursday, June 26, 2026.

Eyewitnesses reported that the vigilante team had embarked on a clearance patrol aimed at flushing out kidnappers and armed groups believed to be hiding in the forest. The attackers struck suddenly, unleashing heavy gunfire that overwhelmed the patrol. A fierce exchange ensued, leaving multiple members of Iru Ekun with gunshot wounds before they managed to retreat under pressure. The injured were later evacuated to a medical facility in Oyo State, though the exact number of casualties remains unclear.

The Old Oyo National Park, once a symbol of Nigeria’s ecological heritage, has increasingly become a sanctuary for criminal networks. Its vast terrain, thick vegetation, and porous borders make it difficult for conventional security forces to monitor. Over the past few years, the park and its surrounding corridors have been linked to a surge in kidnappings, cattle rustling, and armed raids, with bandit groups exploiting the geography to evade detection and stage attacks.

Sunday Igboho, a controversial Yoruba activist known for his confrontations with armed herders and bandits, recently launched Iru Ekun as a community‑based security outfit. He pledged to deploy guards to schools after mass abductions in Oriire LGA, arguing that state security agencies had failed to protect vulnerable communities. His initiative, however, has drawn criticism from authorities, who warn that unsanctioned operations risk escalating violence and undermining coordinated anti‑banditry campaigns.

Residents of Borgu, Oriire, and other forest‑fringe communities say the ambush is a stark reminder of the fragile security situation in Oyo State. Many fear that independent patrols, while well‑intentioned, may provoke heavily armed groups who are often better equipped than local vigilantes. Analysts caution that without proper coordination, such clashes could lead to more casualties and embolden criminal factions who thrive on exploiting gaps in Nigeria’s security architecture.

The incident also raises broader questions about the role of non‑state actors in Nigeria’s fight against insecurity. While vigilante groups and community outfits like Iru Ekun provide local knowledge and manpower, their lack of formal training, standardized equipment, and accountability mechanisms often leave them vulnerable in direct confrontations with organized armed groups.