Key Points

• Gunmen kill National Park officers in Oyo and farmers in Benue, deepening fears over rural security.

• Attacks hit farming communities during harvest, disrupting food production and daily life.

• Police stop planned kidnapping in Kaduna and rescue 76 children, arresting three suspects.

At least nine people were killed in fresh attacks linked to bandits and suspected herders in Oyo and Benue states within the last 24 hours, as police in Kaduna stopped a planned kidnapping and rescued dozens of children.

National Park Officers Killed In Oyo

In Oyo State, four officers of the National Park Service were killed when armed men attacked a park facility in Orire Local Government Area on Tuesday night.

The attackers reportedly moved in quietly under the cover of darkness and opened fire, catching the officers off guard. Several other park workers were injured in the attack.

Residents of nearby communities said the assault caused panic, with many now worried about possible follow-up attacks.

Police Deploy Tactical Teams

The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the incident. Police spokesperson Olayinka Ayanlade said the attackers were yet to be identified and that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, was heading to the area with other security chiefs.

He said tactical units, mobile police officers and bomb disposal experts had been deployed to restore calm and prevent further violence.

Five Farmers Killed During Harvest In Benue

In Benue State, five farmers were killed on Tuesday evening when suspected armed herders attacked Udeku Maav-Ya community in Kwande Local Government Area. The

attack happened around 4 p.m. while residents were harvesting yams and bambara nuts.

The chairman of Kwande council, Tersua Yarkwan, said the attackers did not immediately leave the community after the killings, which increased fear among residents.

Community Leaders Raise Alarm Over Insecurity

He described the incident as deeply troubling, noting that Kwande’s border location and difficult terrain have made it vulnerable to repeated attacks.

According to him, many farmers have stopped going to their fields, raising concerns about food production in the area.

A former local government official, Lawrence Akerigba, said the community had been under pressure for months, with reports of shootings, destroyed crops, damaged homes and restricted access to water.

He said schools, churches and markets had shut down due to the insecurity and appealed for a sustained security presence.

The names of three of the victims were confirmed, while two others had not been identified as of press time. Some residents were still missing, and searches were ongoing.

Police Rescue 76 Children In Kaduna

Meanwhile, police in Kaduna State said they stopped a planned attack and kidnapping in Kasuwan Magani on January 5. Acting on intelligence, officers moved into the area and confronted the suspects.

Seventy-six children, aged between seven and 20, were rescued unharmed. Police arrested three suspects and said initial findings showed the children were being transported to different parts of the country for forced labour and domestic work.

The children are currently being cared for at the police command headquarters while authorities work to locate their parents or guardians.

Police said investigations are continuing and that the suspects will be charged to court once inquiries are completed.