The police command in Oyo State said suspected gunmen invaded the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Passport Office in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, on Tuesday, assaulted officers and stole a rifle.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the command’s spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, said the officer in charge of the facility raised an alarm after armed hoodlums invaded the facility, scaling the perimeter fence at the rear, which borders a large expanse of bushland.

Mr Olayinka said operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit and surveillance teams were deployed promptly to the scene of the incident to intervene and assess the situation.

He said preliminary investigations revealed that suspected gunmen reportedly attacked two immigration officers at about 8:45 p.m., assaulted them with sticks and other dangerous weapons, before making away with a G3 rifle assigned to the office, along with its ammunition.

The spokesman said the suspects also stole a mobile phone belonging to one of the officers on duty, a generator and a motorcycle battery, before escaping through the same fence used to gain access to the facility.

He noted that the immigration officers who sustained injuries during the invasion have received medical attention and are currently in stable condition.

“Surveillance and tactical teams have intensified operations within and around the area, including the combing of adjoining bushes and likely escape routes, in a determined effort to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the stolen firearms and other valuables,” Mr Olayinka stated.

He noted that intelligence assets have been activated to gather actionable information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects, adding that relevant investigative and operational resources have similarly been deployed to ensure a swift breakthrough in the case.

The spokesperson said the state’s Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, directed all relevant operational and intelligence units to deploy all available resources to ensure the prompt arrest of the perpetrators.

Mr Olayinka disclosed that the police commissioner and the Oyo State Comptroller of the NIS, have jointly constituted a collaborative task force to strengthen coordination and enhance efforts that would lead to the arrest of the culprits involved.

The command reassured residents of Ogbomoso and other concerned members of the public of its commitment to protect lives and property, as well as prevent criminal elements from gaining a foothold in the state.