At least five forest guards have been killed in a deadly overnight attack by armed bandits on Nuku village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, in yet another escalation of insecurity in the region.
The assault reportedly happened in the early hours of Friday when the attackers stormed the community around 3am, firing sporadically as residents fled into nearby bushes for safety.
Sources said the gunmen arrived in large numbers and operated freely for hours without any immediate resistance, taking advantage of the community’s vulnerable night-time security.
During the raid, the assailants targeted newly recruited forest guards, killing five of them on the spot. Several properties were also destroyed in the attack.
The attackers were also said to have set motorcycles belonging to the forest guards ablaze, alongside patrol vehicles reportedly operated by mobile police units stationed in the area.
The incident has further raised concerns over worsening security conditions in Kaiama Local Government Area, where rural communities have repeatedly faced similar violent incursions.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kwara State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement, although its spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed awareness of the incident and promised updates once more details are gathered.
Security agencies are expected to intensify response efforts in the area as residents continue to count their losses from the latest attack.
