Abubakar Abdullahi, one of the seven suspects arrested by the Oyo State Police Command over the attack on forest rangers at the Old Oyo National Park, has confessed that the group deliberately set out to kill the rangers in order to rescue three Fulani herders earlier arrested by security operatives.
Abubakar made the admission while speaking with investigators, revealing that he was recruited into the operation by Mohammed Dangi, whom he described as the second-in-command of the bandit gang. According to him, the mission was explicitly aimed at freeing the detained herders, even if it meant killing all forest rangers on duty at the park office.
Despite his small stature and youthful appearance, Abubakar is said to be proficient in handling AK-47 rifles and has been actively involved in kidnapping and armed operations alongside the gang.
The attack occurred on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the National Forest Rangers’ office in Oloka Village, Ikoyi-Ile, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. About 10 armed men reportedly invaded the Old Oyo National Park office around 9pm and launched a coordinated assault that resulted in the death of five forest rangers.
After killing the rangers, the attackers reportedly made away with two FNC rifles and three motorcycles, while setting two other motorcycles on fire.
Confirming the arrests, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the Monitoring Unit of the command, led by CSP Ayodeji Adepetu, took over the investigation on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna.
He explained that intelligence-led operations led to the arrest of three suspects initially, followed by four others, bringing the total number arrested to seven.
Those arrested include Mohammed Dangi, identified as the gang’s coordinator; Abubakar Abdullahi; Sheu Usman; Toro Malami; Usman Alhaji Umaru; Laolo Muhammadu; and Usman Alhaji Isah.
Speaking on his role, Abubakar, who claimed Kebbi State as his place of origin but said he resides in B’Olorunduro, Ogbomoso, admitted that he worked as a herder while also engaging in kidnapping activities.
“It was Mohammed Dangi who invited me,” he said. “He told us to kill everyone we met at the park office because three Fulani herders had been arrested. After killing the forest rangers, we released our people and took them away.”
<He added that the gang rode on five motorcycles, carried five AK-47 rifles and explosives, parked far from the park office, and trekked through the bush before launching the attack.
Abubakar identified a man known as Bello, who is currently at large, as the overall leader of the gang, noting that Bello supplied the weapons and issued instructions through Mohammed Dangi.
On his involvement in kidnapping, Abubakar said he had been participating in such activities for a long time but claimed his share of ransom was usually N10,000.
A security source corroborated his claims, explaining that members of criminal gangs are often exploited by their leaders and compelled to operate under fear and intimidation.
DSP Ayanlade said efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang, assuring that all those connected to the attack would be brought to justice.
