•Oyo police on 24-hour alert, launch investigation
Tension and fear have surged among residents of Ikoyi-Ile in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, after threatening notes, allegedly from bandits, were discovered in the town, warning of an attack scheduled for January 20, 2026.
The two handwritten notes were found affixed to a building in Ikoyi-Ile, with one written in Yoruba and another in English.
In the note titled “Lati Odo Bandit”, the authors said they would be in the area on January 20 and urged residents to prepare, warning of imminent violence. The second note included disjointed phrases implying that the recipients were “the government that sent us.”
It will be noted that Ikoyi-Ile and Oloka Community, where the National Park Service attacked by the bandits is situated, are under the same local government.
The alleged threats have triggered widespread panic among families and traders in the community, with many residents expressing fear of possible attacks. Some have appealed to security agencies and the Oyo State Government to strengthen patrols and reassure the public.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command confirmed the discovery of the threatening notes on Saturday, January 10, and said an investigation is underway to determine their origin and authenticity.
Spokesperson for the command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the person who found the notes is being debriefed as part of efforts to establish the motive behind them.
The police have urged calm, stressing that security agencies are actively working to assess the situation and protect lives and property. Authorities have also encouraged residents to report any suspicious activity or credible information to the command.
The warning comes against a backdrop of recent violence in the area.
Just days earlier, suspected gunmen attacked the Old Oyo National Park in nearby Oloka village, killing five forest rangers and sowing further fear among rural communities.
The incident led scores of residents to flee their homes as social and economic activities collapsed.
Local traditional leaders and security stakeholders have called for enhanced vigilance, improved intelligence sharing and stronger community cooperation to curb criminal activity in forested and fringe settlements of Ogbomosoland and surrounding regions.
As the investigation continues, both law enforcement and community members face mounting pressure to quell fears and prevent potential violence in one of southwest Nigeria’s unsettled rural belts.
