Residents of Ikoyi-Ile in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State are living in fear following reports that suspected bandits sent written notices warning of an impending attack on the community.
Ikoyi-Ile is in the same council area where five forest guards were killed earlier in the week at the Old Oyo National Park in Oloka village.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits reportedly opened fire on officers at the park on Tuesday, leaving multiple casualties and heightening security concerns in the area.
The Nation reported that two handwritten notes believed to be from bandits were allegedly dropped at a building in Ikoyi-Ile, stating that the town would be attacked on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
One of the notes, written in Yoruba and titled “Lati Odo Bandit,” warned residents to prepare for their arrival and claimed they were coming to inflict “sorrow.” A second note in English read: “Bandit information. See, now, three days we work for you. We said you in Ikoyi-Ile is the government that sent us. Wait for us.”
Though the authenticity of the letters has not been confirmed, sources in the community said the threats have caused widespread panic, with many residents anxious about their safety.
When contacted, Oyo State Police Command spokesperson Ayanlade Olayinka said the individual who allegedly discovered the note is undergoing debriefing and that the Command has opened a full-scale investigation to determine the origin and intent of the messages.
