Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, warned in 2020 that bandits from Mali were attempting to enter Nigeria through the Saki border.
The caution has resurfaced amid rising security concerns in Oyo state, following a deadly attack this week.
On Tuesday night, suspected bandits stormed the Old Oyo National Park Service office in Oloka, Orire Local Government, killing at least five park officials.
The assailants reportedly opened fire around 9 p.m., seized weapons, and fled into the nearby forest.
Ayanlade Olayinka, state police spokesperson, confirmed the incident, noting that the attackers were yet to be identified.
He added that Femi Haruna, commissioner of police, had deployed tactical units while security chiefs assessed the scene.
Makinde said preliminary investigations suggest the attackers crossed into Oyo state specifically to carry out the operation.
He appealed to residents to cooperate with security agencies, adding that authorities are working jointly to contain the situation.
Oyo has previously suffered several bandit-related attacks, including kidnappings along highways, assaults on rural communities, and threats within forested areas.
A notable incident occurred in 2021 at Igangan in Ibarapa North LGA, where over 15 residents were killed and properties destroyed, fuelling debates about herder-farmer clashes and criminal infiltration.
When he first issued the warning, Makinde described it as an international security challenge, urging vigilance and federal support to prevent displaced Sahel groups from establishing a foothold in the south-west.
He also highlighted concerns about bandits fleeing military operations in the north-west and migrating southwards.
Gani Adams, Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, reinforced the 2020 warnings, alerting that armed groups disguised as herdsmen were infiltrating south-west forests.
“The Ààrẹ Ona Kakanfo-in-Council has in its possession credible intelligence, gathered from within and outside the country, which strongly indicates the infiltration of terrorists and killer Fulani herdsmen in the region,” Adams said.
He added, “More worrisome, the intelligence report also reveals that suspected ISIS operatives have already positioned themselves in Niger state via Ìbàrùbáland and are now within the Òkè-ògùn corridor of Oyo state.”
The Nigerian army dismissed Adams’ claim, stating that the alert is being “magnified” and posed no immediate threat to Oyo state.
Although police continue to investigate the Tuesday national park attack, the incident raises renewed questions about the cross-border threats highlighted by Makinde and Adams.