A suspected criminal has been neutralised, an AK-47 rifle recovered and temporary hideouts destroyed as Nigerian Army troops intensify operations against criminal elements in the Old Oyo National Park.
The operation, carried out by troops of Operation Igbo Danu II under the Army’s 2 Division, followed an encounter with suspected criminals on November 7, 2026.
Working alongside hybrid forces, the soldiers reportedly advanced on the suspects, who fled upon sighting the troops.
A subsequent search led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, an empty magazine and a Dane gun, dealing a blow to the fleeing group’s operational capacity.
The operation continued on November 8, when troops discovered the body of one of the suspects who had escaped during the initial encounter, confirming his death.
The soldiers also demolished temporary shelters believed to have been used as criminal hideouts, in a move aimed at denying the suspects safe locations within the forest.
The Army says troops are continuing to comb the area in search of fleeing suspects and to prevent them from regrouping, reaffirming its commitment to dismantling criminal networks and restoring security across its area of responsibility.
