ABUBAKAR Abdullahi is among the seven suspects apprehended by the Oyo State Police Command for their involvement in the attack and murder of five forest rangers at the National Park Service office in Oloka Village. He has shared that he was recruited by a man named Mohammed Dangi, whom he identified as the second-in-command of the bandit group, to engage in the violent operation aimed at liberating three Fulani herders who had been detained for an undisclosed reason.
Despite his small build, youthful appearance, and delicate features that might suggest innocence, he is actually a young man adept at handling AK-47 rifles, demonstrating skill and confidence in shooting.
The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the National Forest Rangers’ office in Oloka Village, Ikoyi Ile, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where five forest rangers were killed. The attackers, reportedly numbering around ten and armed with high-grade firearms, invaded the Old Oyo National Park office at approximately 9 PM, launching a fierce assault on the rangers.
In addition to the killings, one ranger was burned beyond recognition, and the attackers also stole two FNC rifles and three motorcycles, while setting two other motorcycles ablaze.
DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed the suspects' arrests in a statement, indicating that the command's Monitoring Unit, under the leadership of CSP Ayodeji Adepetu, was assigned by Commissioner of Police Femi Haruna to oversee the investigation following the attack.
He stated that operations driven by intelligence resulted in the initial capture of three suspects, followed by the arrest of four more, making the total number of arrests seven.
The arrested individuals include Mohammed Dangi, who is believed to be the coordinator of the gang; Abubakar Abdullahi, Sheu Usman, Toro Malami, Usman Alhaji Umaru, Laolo Muhammadu, and Usman Alhaji Isah.
In an interview, Abubakar, a Fulani man claiming Yahuri in Kebbi State as his hometown but currently residing in B’Olorunduro, Ogbomoso, mentioned that he was a herder involved in kidnapping activities with other gang members.
"I can’t recall how long I’ve been in B’Olorunduro. I herded cattle from Bode Saadu in Kwara State to that area," he stated.
Describing the circumstances that led to the assault on the forest rangers and the execution of the operation, Abubakar revealed: "It was Mohammed Dangi who called me. He ordered me and others to kill everyone we encountered at the park office. The justification he provided was that three Fulani herders had been detained. He instructed us to free our three men after eliminating the forest rangers. After we killed those rangers, we liberated our people and took them away.
"I was unaware of the initial discussions regarding the plan, but I joined the gang on the day of the attack."
Regarding how the gang accessed the park office, which is surrounded by dense bush, without being noticed before the attack, he explained: "We were ten in total. We arrived on five motorcycles and carried five AK-47 rifles. Two of us rode each motorcycle. We also brought explosives. We parked the motorcycles at a distance and quietly walked to the park office."
He mentioned a certain Bello, who is currently at large, as the gang's leader, stating that Mohammed acted on Bello’s orders.
"Bello and I used to live together in Bode Saadu, but I don’t know his current whereabouts. He only communicated instructions to Mohammed and did not accompany us to Oloka Village. He was the one who provided Mohammed with the AK-47 rifles we utilized. Bello typically participated in our kidnapping missions," he said.
When asked how long he had been involved in kidnapping, Abubakar admitted he couldn’t remember, indicating that it had been a long time. He recalled taking part in kidnappings in Oloka Village and Bode Saadu, adding: "Whenever I was summoned for a kidnapping operation, I always went."
Despite considering his involvement in these activities as a means of survival, Abubakar mentioned that his share of the ransom from kidnapping operations was consistently N10,000. When urged to tell the truth, he swore by Allah that he had never received more than that amount.
A source from the security sector validated his assertion, indicating that members of kidnapping gangs, bandits, and terrorist factions frequently endure significant exploitation by their leaders.
"From our investigative experiences, we have found that when they steal cattle, they might give one cow to five individuals and still force them to sell it back to the leader at an absurdly low price, sometimes not exceeding N40,000. They cannot protest or question this, as it could cost them their lives. The leader does not pay in cash; instead, he instructs them to take goods and direct traders to him for payment. This is the form of slavery they foolishly accept," the source stated.
When questioned about how he became adept at handling an AK-47 despite his small frame, Abubakar smiled and said, "I was trained by Mohammed Dangi. I know how to use the rifle very well."
On whether the gang killed kidnap victims whose families could not pay the ransom, he mentioned that such decisions were made by the leaders.
"I do not desire to kidnap people, but Mohammed is my relative. I grew up with him, and he convinced me to join the gang," he added.
DSP Ayanlade noted that the Monitoring Unit, in collaboration with other security agencies, is intensifying efforts to track down the remaining suspects and bring them to justice.
(Source: Nigerian Tribune)
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