Nigerian Army Defeats Criminals and Recovers Weapons in Old Oyo Park

Troops from the Nigerian Army have taken down a suspected criminal and seized an AK-47 rifle during an operation at the Old Oyo National Park.

The operation was carried out by troops from Operation IGBO DANU II. This is part of the 2 Division Nigerian Army working with hybrid forces. The operation also led to the recovery of more weapons and the destruction of makeshift shelters thought to be used by criminals.

Operation IGBO DANU II aims to remove armed groups and stop them from having safe spaces in forest areas. This operation is a follow-up to Operation IGBO DANU, also called Operation Forest Flush, which started in January 2026. That operation focused on bandit hideouts in Kwara State.

The Nigerian Army shared this information in a statement on its official website on Monday. The operation took place on November 7 and 8, 2026.

The statement explained that on November 7, troops faced off against suspected criminals in the park. The suspects ran away when they saw the soldiers approaching.

The Army stated, “The troops subsequently recovered one AK-47 rifle, one empty magazine and one Dane gun, further degrading the operational capabilities of the fleeing elements.”

In a follow-up operation on November 8, the soldiers found the body of one of the fleeing suspects. This confirmed that one criminal was neutralised.

The statement added, “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 this operation is part of the ongoing effort to break down criminal networks and keep them from using forest areas as hiding spots. They confirmed that the Nigerian Army, along with other security partners, is dedicated to ongoing operations to bring back security in the 2 Division Area of Responsibility.

“Exploitation of the general area is ongoing to track fleeing elements and prevent their regrouping,” the statement said.