The Oyo State Police Command says armed men attacked the Nigeria Immigration Service passport office in Ogbomoso on Tuesday night, making away with a rifle, ammunition and other valuables.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ayanlade Olayinka said two immigration officers on duty sustained injuries during the incident.
According to Olayinka, the officer in charge of the passport office raised an alarm at about 8:45pm after the gunmen invaded the facility.
“Upon receipt of the distress report, immediate reinforcement comprising operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit and surveillance teams was deployed to the scene for intervention and assessment of the situation,” Olayinka said.
He explained that preliminary investigations showed that about five attackers gained access to the premises by scaling the rear perimeter fence, which adjoins a large expanse of bushland, before confronting two immigration officers on night duty.
The police spokesperson said the assailants assaulted the officers with sticks and other dangerous weapons before fleeing with a G3 rifle assigned to the office and its ammunition.
“The suspects also carted away a mobile phone belonging to one of the officers on duty, a generating set and a motorcycle battery before escaping through the same route used to gain access to the facility,” he said.
Olayinka added that the injured officers had received medical treatment and were in stable condition.
He said surveillance and tactical teams had intensified operations around the area, including searches of surrounding bushes and likely escape routes, to track down the suspects and recover the stolen items.
“Intelligence assets and informants have been activated to generate actionable information capable of leading to the arrest of the suspects, while all relevant investigative and operational resources have been deployed to ensure a swift breakthrough in the case,” he said.
The police spokesperson noted that the command is collaborating with the Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies to apprehend those behind the attack.
He added that Abimbola Olugbenga had directed all operational and intelligence units to deploy every available resource towards arresting the perpetrators.
Olayinka further disclosed that the police commissioner and the state comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service had established a joint task team to improve coordination and strengthen efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
He said the police chief reassured residents of Ogbomoso and neighbouring communities of the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property while preventing criminal elements from gaining a foothold in the state.
The command also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station, assuring them that any information provided would be treated confidentially.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over a rise in security breaches across Oyo State.
Earlier on Wednesday, gunmen abducted Olaide John-Paul and her twin sons, Peter and Paul, in Ibadan, the state capital.
Since Monday, protests have also erupted within and outside the state over the May 15 abduction of about 39 pupils and seven teachers from three schools in the Oriire area of Ogbomoso.