Abubakar Abdullahi, one of seven suspects arrested over the killing of five forest rangers in Oyo State, has revealed he was invited by a gang leader to participate in the deadly operation aimed at freeing detained herders.
Abubakar Abdullahi, a Fulani man from Yahuri in Kebbi State residing in B’Olorunduro, Ogbomoso, spoke to investigators about his involvement in the attack on the National Forest Rangers’ office in Oloka Village, Ikoyi Ile, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The assault, which took place on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, left five forest rangers dead, including one who was burned beyond recognition. Abdullahi said he was recruited by Mohammed Dangi, the gang’s second-in-command, to participate in the operation to free three arrested Fulani herders. “It was Mohammed Dangi who invited me. He instructed me and others to kill all the people we saw at the park office. The reason he gave was that three Fulani herders had been arrested. He told us to set our three men free after killing the forest rangers. After killing those rangers, we released our people and took them away,” Abdullahi explained.
Abdullahi revealed that despite participating in kidnapping operations, his share of ransom was consistently just N10,000. “I swear by Allah that I never received more than that amount,” he told investigators. A security source confirmed his statement, explaining that members of kidnap gangs, bandits, and terrorist groups are often heavily exploited by their leaders. “From our experience during investigations, we have learned that even when they rustle cattle, they may give one cow to five people and still compel them to sell it back to the leader at a ridiculously low price, sometimes not more than N40,000. They dare not protest or ask questions, except they want to die. The leader also does not pay cash; instead, he tells them to collect goods and direct traders to him for payment. That is the kind of slavery they gullibly submit themselves to,” the source said.
According to the Oyo State Police Command, seven suspects in total have been arrested in connection with the attack. The suspects, including Mohammed Dangi, Sheu Usman, Toro Malami, Usman Alhaji Umaru, Laolo Muhammadu, and Usman Alhaji Isah, were apprehended following intelligence-led operations directed by the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna. DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed that the Monitoring Unit, led by CSP Ayodeji Adepetu, oversaw the investigation, which led to the initial arrest of three suspects before four others were apprehended. Abdullahi, who also engaged in kidnapping activities alongside the gang, said he joined the attack on the day it was executed and did not know when the idea was first planned.