Nigerian Army Neutralises Suspected Criminal In Old Oyo National Park, Recovers AK-47, Dane Gun

Troops of Operation IGBO DANU II under the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army have neutralised a suspected criminal and recovered an AK-47 rifle and other weapons during an operation in the Old Oyo National Park. The operation, conducted in collaboration with hybrid forces, also led to the destruction of temporary shelters suspected to have been used as hideouts by criminal elements operating in the forest. The Nigerian Army disclosed this in a statement published on its official website on Monday.

The Army said the encounter occurred on November 7, 2026, when troops conducting operations within the park engaged suspected criminal elements who fled upon sighting the advancing troops. The troops subsequently recovered one AK-47 rifle, one empty magazine and one Dane gun, further degrading the operational capabilities of the fleeing elements. During a follow-up exploitation on November 8, 2026, troops discovered the corpse of one of the fleeing suspects, confirming the neutralisation of one criminal element.

The troops also destroyed temporary shelters believed to have served as hideouts, further disrupting criminal activities and denying the perpetrators safe havens within the forested area. The Army said exploitation of the area is ongoing to track fleeing suspects and prevent their regrouping at the park. It did not identify the deceased suspect or disclose the exact location of the encounter within the national park, nor did it provide details about the origin of the recovered weapons.

The latest operation forms part of Operation IGBO DANU II, a military campaign aimed at flushing out armed groups and denying them safe havens in forested areas. The broader Operation IGBO DANU, also known as Operation Forest Flush, was launched in January 2026 to target bandit enclaves in Kwara State. The operation comes amid growing security concerns over the use of the Old Oyo National Park as a hideout by suspected kidnappers and other criminal groups, months after 46 pupils and teachers were abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026, and taken into the park.