OYRLEA Condemns Attack on Enforcement Team in Okeho, Assures Residents of Safety

The Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA) has condemned an attack on its enforcement team in Okeho, Kajola Local Government Area. The Authority says suspected herders confronted its officers during a lawful operation on Friday, November 13, 2026. Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has urged residents to stay calm as security agencies handle the matter. Prince Dotun Oyelade, the Commissioner for Information, signed the official statement.

According to the Authority, the incident began at about 6:30 a.m. in the Ilua area of Okeho. At that time, the team was enforcing the Open Rearing and Grazing Regulations Law, 2019, against alleged violators. The Authority claims that suspected herders confronted the officers at their operational point and raised firearms against them.

Security operatives attached to the team provided cover for the operation. They reacted quickly, therefore, and moved personnel out of the immediate danger zone. The Authority did not report any death or injury in its statement.

However, the trouble did not end there. The team came under a second attack around the Palace axis as it travelled along Iseyin Road into Okeho town. Officers responded by taking cover, assessing the situation and adopting safety measures. Afterwards, the Authority reported the incident to the Nigeria Police Force, which is now handling the situation.

The Chairperson of the Authority, Hon. Justice Aderonke Adekemi Aderemi (Rtd.), described the attack as unfortunate and unacceptable. She said it threatens not only the safety of enforcement personnel but also the rule of law and peaceful coexistence in the state. “This attack is cruel and heartbreaking,” she stated. In addition, she called it an attack “on the rule of law and the peace of our dear state.”

Aderemi also moved to calm public fears. She said the Authority remains committed to its statutory duties, and she promised to safeguard both its personnel and members of the public. “We will not be deterred,” she declared.

Furthermore, the Chairperson warned individuals and groups against acts that disrupt public peace, destroy property or threaten lives. She stressed that the state will not tolerate actions that undermine law and order. She also reiterated the Authority’s determination to enforce the state’s laws within the ambit of the law. Finally, she asked residents to cooperate with the relevant security agencies to maintain peace across Oyo State.

The incident adds to a long-running tension over the grazing law. OYRLEA has carried out many early morning operations in Ibadan and other areas, and its officers have impounded cattle found grazing in violation of the regulations. The Authority says these operations respond to petitions from farmers whose crops herders allegedly destroyed. Officials also say they have held roundtables with farmers, herders and traditional rulers.

Nevertheless, the Authority’s work has drawn criticism. Earlier this year, some Fulani herders in Ido Local Government Area accused its officials of extortion, bias and the unlawful seizure of livestock. The Authority denied those claims and said it does not discriminate against any group. Sojworldnews has not independently verified either side’s account, and the herders’ allegations do not relate to the Okeho incident.

For now, the facts of the Okeho attack come mainly from the Authority’s own statement. Sojworldnews has not found an independent account, and the police have not yet published their findings. The identity of the attackers, the number of people involved and the exact sequence of events therefore remain unconfirmed.

Residents of Okeho and nearby communities will watch closely as the police investigate. Moreover, the case tests the state’s ability to enforce its laws while it protects lives on all sides. Farmers, herders and traditional rulers will also look for fair and peaceful ways to resolve disputes over grazing land, because lasting peace depends on all of them. Sojworldnews will update this story as verified information emerges.