Army Recovers AK-47, Destroys Suspected Criminal Hideouts in Old Oyo National Park

Troops of the Nigerian Army have recovered an AK-47 rifle and destroyed suspected criminal hideouts during a security operation in the Old Oyo National Park, where armed groups have been accused of operating.

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

The Nigerian Army disclosed this in a statement published on its official website on Monday, stating that troops encountered suspected criminal elements inside the park on November 7.

According to the Army, the suspects fled as soldiers advanced towards them, abandoning an AK-47 rifle, an empty magazine and a Dane gun.

During a follow-up operation the next day, troops discovered the body of one of the suspects who had fled during the initial encounter.

The Army also said the soldiers destroyed temporary shelters believed to have been used as hideouts by criminal elements operating within the forest.

It described the operation as part of efforts to dismantle criminal networks, disrupt their activities and prevent 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 exact location of the encounter within the national park. It also did not provide details about the origin of the recovered weapons.

The operation follows the launch of Operation IGBO DANU, also known as Operation Forest Flush, in January 2026, targeting bandit enclaves in Kwara State.

The latest military action comes amid growing security concerns over the use of the Old Oyo National Park as a hideout by suspected kidnappers and other criminal 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 before security agencies eventually freed the victims on July 10, after 56 days in captivity.

The rescue operation involved the military and other security agencies and reportedly relied on intelligence gathering and efforts to dismantle the kidnappers’ networks, informants and hideouts within the park.

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 criminal groups from using the forest as a hideout.

The latest operation forms part of Operation IGBO DANU II, a military campaign aimed at flushing out armed groups and denying them safe havens in forested areas.