Bandits attack Kwara community, kill five forest guards, abduct two

Armed attackers have killed five forest guards and abducted two others in Nuku community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, in a pre-dawn assault on Friday.

Nuku lies about two kilometres from Woro community, where over 200 people were killed and 176 others abducted in a February attack.

Residents said the attackers arrived around 3:00 a.m. and opened fire, forcing a chaotic response from those on ground. A resident who spoke anonymously said the guards attempted to confront the attackers but were overwhelmed.

Footage from the scene showed five bodies lying in pools of blood, suggesting the victims were killed during the exchange.

According to the resident, security personnel stationed in the area withdrew during the attack. Two forest guards were later taken away by the assailants.

“Five forest guards were killed. The security operatives ran away for safety. Two others were taken into the bush,” the resident said.

Police authorities in Kwara State said they had not yet received full details of the incident at the time of filing this report, but promised to investigate.

The attack adds to a series of violent incidents across parts of Kwara North, including Kaiama, Patigi, Edu and Ifelodun, where armed groups have carried out repeated raids, killings and kidnappings in recent months.

Earlier in the week, residents of Woro were paraded by their abductors in a video, with threats that captives could be killed if demands were not met.

State officials have yet to issue a detailed response to Friday’s incident.