Residents of Ikoyi-Ile town in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State are gripped by fear following an alleged threat by suspected bandits to attack the community later this month, report says.
Ikoyi-Ile is located in the same local government area where five persons were recently killed by gunmen at the Old Oyo National Park in Oloka village, an incident that has heightened security concerns across the area.
Grassroots Parrot gathered that suspected bandits had, on Tuesday, opened fire at the Old Oyo National Park, killing five people in an attack that prompted the police to deploy more personnel to the area.
Amid the lingering tension from that attack, residents of Ikoyi-Ile were reportedly thrown into fresh panic after discovering two anonymous notes allegedly written by bandits, warning of an impending assault on the town.
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According to DAILY POST, the notes were dropped at both the front and back of a building within the community. One of the handwritten notes, written in Yoruba language and bearing neither address nor signature, was titled “Lati Odo Bandit.”
The note read:
“Lati Odo Bandit, A o wa ni January 20th, 2026. E duro de wa ati pe ki e mu ra fun wa le. A wa lati wa fun yin ni ibanuje ni orilede yin. Ni Ikoyi-Ile, Ile Oyo State. E mu ra le fun wa.”
Roughly translated, the message warned residents to expect the arrival of bandits on January 20, 2026, urging them to “prepare” as the attackers intended to bring sorrow to the town.
The second note, written 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.”
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Although it has not been officially confirmed whether the notes truly emanated from suspected bandits. However, the messages have caused widespread anxiety among residents, with many fearing a possible repeat of the deadly attack witnessed in the local government area days earlier.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, SP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the command had not received any formal report regarding the alleged threat letters. He disclosed that investigations had been launched following inquiries by newsmen.
“We haven’t received such a letter, but since you have brought it up, investigation has been launched immediately it was received,” Ayanlade said.
As investigations continue, residents of Ikoyi-Ile are calling for increased security presence to prevent any potential attack and restore calm to the community.