Suspected gunmen on Tuesday night attacked a Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) office in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, and reportedly made away with firearms belonging to officers on duty.
The incident, which has raised fresh concerns about the security of government facilities, occurred at about 10:00 p.m. at the immigration office located along the Ogbomoso–Ilorin Motorway near the NNPC filling station in Ogbomoso.
According to sources familiar with the incident, the attackers stormed the facility while commercial activities were still ongoing in the nearby Ayanyan Cattle Market, a busy trading area known for attracting traders and buyers from different parts of the country.
The gunmen were said to have overwhelmed officers on duty before seizing their weapons. The exact number of firearms taken during the operation could not be immediately confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
Witnesses said the attackers carried out the operation within a short period before escaping under the cover of darkness.
The attack has created anxiety among residents and business owners in the area, many of whom expressed concern over the growing boldness of criminal groups targeting public institutions and security formations.
Although details of how the attackers gained access to the facility remain unclear, preliminary reports indicate that the assailants may have arrived with a clear understanding of the location and movement within the premises.
Security agencies are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, including whether the operation was carefully planned and if there were security lapses that enabled the gunmen to carry out the raid.
Efforts to obtain an official confirmation from security authorities initially met with limited success.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said he had not yet been briefed on the incident.
“I have not been briefed on the incident at this time. I will provide updates as soon as the necessary information becomes available,” he said.
As of the time of this report, neither the Nigeria Immigration Service nor other relevant security agencies had released an official statement detailing the extent of the attack or the measures being taken to recover the stolen weapons.
Authorities were also yet to confirm whether any officer was injured or whether arrests had been made in connection with the incident.
The attack comes at a time when security agencies across Nigeria are battling various forms of criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry and attacks on government facilities.
In recent years, security formations in different parts of the country have occasionally come under attack from criminal groups seeking to obtain weapons or challenge the authority of law enforcement agencies.
Such incidents have often prompted concerns about the possibility of stolen firearms being used to commit further crimes.
For this reason, attacks involving the theft of firearms from government facilities are usually treated as serious security matters requiring swift response and investigation.
Ogbomoso, one of the major cities in Oyo State, serves as an important commercial and transportation hub linking the South-West with parts of the North-Central region. The city hosts several government institutions, educational establishments and commercial centres.
The Ogbomoso–Ilorin road where the immigration office is located is a major route used daily by travellers, traders and transport operators moving between different states.
Residents of the area said they were shocked by reports of the attack, especially given the location of the facility along a busy highway.
Some community members called on security agencies to increase surveillance around government offices and critical public infrastructure to prevent similar incidents.
Others urged authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering and improve coordination among security agencies operating within the state.
The latest attack is likely to renew discussions about the protection of security facilities and the need for additional measures to safeguard weapons and sensitive government assets.
They also stress the importance of quickly tracking and recovering stolen weapons to prevent them from being used in future criminal activities.
As investigations continue, residents and stakeholders are awaiting further information from the police, the Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies regarding the circumstances of the attack.
Authorities are expected to review security arrangements around the facility while efforts continue to identify and apprehend those responsible.
For now, the whereabouts of the attackers and the stolen firearms remain unknown.
The incident has once again highlighted the security challenges facing parts of the country and the urgent need for sustained efforts to protect public institutions, security personnel and citizens from criminal attacks.