Terrorists attack Ogbomoso immigration office, cart away rifle, ammunition

Gunmen suspected to be terrorists attacked the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) passport office in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, on Tuesday night, making away with a rifle, ammunition, and other valuables.

The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the attack in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, who said two immigration officers were injured during the incident.

According to Olayinka, the officer in charge of the passport office raised an alarm at about 8:45 p.m. after armed men invaded the facility.

“Upon receipt of the distress report, immediate reinforcement comprising operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit and surveillance teams was deployed to the scene for intervention and assessment of the situation,” he said.

Preliminary investigations revealed that about five assailants scaled the rear perimeter fence of the facility, which borders a vast forested area, before attacking two immigration officers on night duty.

Olayinka said the attackers assaulted the officers with sticks and other dangerous weapons before fleeing with a G3 rifle assigned to the office and its ammunition.

“The suspects also carted away a mobile phone belonging to one of the officers on duty, a generating set, and a motorcycle battery before escaping through the same route used to gain access to the facility,” he added.

The police spokesperson said the injured officers had received medical treatment and were in stable condition.

He added that surveillance and tactical teams had intensified operations in and around the area, including combing nearby forests and suspected escape routes, to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the stolen items.

“Intelligence assets and informants have been activated to generate actionable information capable of leading to the arrest of the suspects, while all relevant investigative and operational resources have been deployed to ensure a swift breakthrough in the case,” Olayinka said.

He noted that the command was working closely with the Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies to track down those responsible for the attack.

Olayinka further disclosed that the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, had directed all operational and intelligence units to deploy every available resource towards apprehending the attackers.

According to him, the police commissioner and the state comptroller of the NIS have constituted a joint task force to strengthen coordination and enhance efforts aimed at bringing the suspects to justice.

He said the police chief reassured residents of Ogbomoso and its environs of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and preventing criminal elements from establishing a foothold in the state.

The command also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station, assuring them that any information provided would be treated with strict confidentiality.

The attack comes amid growing public concern over rising insecurity in Oyo State.

Earlier on Wednesday, gunmen abducted Olaide John-Paul, a sister of former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, along with her twin sons, Peter and Paul, in Ibadan, the state capital.

The incident also comes as protests continue over the May 15 abduction of about 39 pupils and seven teachers from three schools in the Oriire area of Ogbomoso, who remain in captivity.