Army destroys criminal hideouts, recovers AK-47 in Old Oyo Park

Troops of the Nigerian Army have recovered an AK-47 rifle and destroyed suspected criminal hideouts in the Old Oyo National Park, as security forces intensify efforts to prevent armed groups from using the forest as a base.

The operation also led to the recovery of a Dane gun and an empty magazine, while soldiers later discovered the body of a suspected criminal who fled during an encounter with troops.

The Army said the operation was conducted on November 7 and 8 by troops of Operation IGBO DANU II under the 2 Division, in collaboration with hybrid forces.

In a statement published on its official website on Monday, the military said troops encountered suspected criminals inside the park on November 7, but the suspects fled as soldiers advanced towards them.

“On 7 November 2026, troops conducting operations within the park engaged suspected criminal elements who fled upon sighting the advancing troops,” the Army said.
The troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, an empty magazine and a Dane gun during the operation.

A follow-up operation on November 8 led to the discovery of the corpse of one of the suspects who escaped during the initial encounter.
The Army also said its troops destroyed temporary shelters believed to have served as hideouts for criminal elements operating in the forest.

It said the operation was part of efforts to dismantle criminal networks, disrupt their activities and stop armed groups from using forested areas as safe havens.
“Exploitation of the general area is ongoing to track fleeing elements and prevent their regrouping,” the statement added.

The Army did not identify the deceased suspect or disclose the precise location of the encounter within the national park. It also gave no details about the origin of the recovered weapons.

The operation comes amid concerns over the use of the Old Oyo National Park by suspected kidnappers and other armed groups.
On May 15, 46 pupils and teachers were abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and taken into the national park.

The difficult terrain reportedly complicated rescue efforts, with the victims eventually freed on July 10 after 56 days in captivity.
The rescue operation involved the military and other security agencies, with intelligence gathering and efforts to dismantle the kidnappers’ networks, informants and hideouts reportedly playing key roles.

In October, the General Officer Commanding the Army’s 2 Division, Major General Auwalu Mahmuda, announced that the military had taken over the entire park as a training ground to prevent criminals from using the forest as a hideout.

The latest operation is 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.