Suspected terrorists on Tuesday launched a brazen attack on travellers along the ever-busy Ibadan–Ijebu corridor in , triggering panic among commuters and raising fresh concerns over security on major highways in the region.
The incident reportedly occurred on the Ibadan–Ijebu road, a critical link connecting parts of the South-West, as passengers traveling from approached.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the travellers had almost reached their destination when heavily armed assailants suddenly emerged from the surrounding bush, opening fire indiscriminately on moving vehicles.
Sources disclosed that a private vehicle, identified as a Toyota Corolla Sport, was leading the convoy, followed closely by a commercial bus and other vehicles. The attackers’ sudden appearance and sporadic gunfire caused immediate chaos, forcing drivers to halt abruptly. In a desperate bid to survive, passengers reportedly disembarked and fled into nearby bushes and open fields, scattering in different directions to evade the gunmen.
The incident, described by witnesses as swift and coordinated, lasted several minutes and left the stretch of road temporarily deserted, as motorists abandoned their vehicles in fear. While the full extent of damage to property remains unclear, the psychological impact on survivors is said to be significant, with many recounting narrow escapes from what could have been a mass casualty incident.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Command, , stated that security operatives had been deployed to the scene. He disclosed that one person lost his life during the attack, but clarified that no abduction was recorded, countering initial fears of a mass kidnapping.
Authorities have since intensified patrol and surveillance operations along the Ibadan–Ijebu axis, which has increasingly drawn attention due to sporadic security breaches. Security experts warn that the incident underscores the need for sustained intelligence gathering, improved rural policing, and closer collaboration between local communities and law enforcement agencies.
As investigations continue, residents and commuters have been urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements, while stakeholders call on both state and federal authorities to reinforce security architecture along major transport routes to prevent a recurrence of such violent episodes.
