One killed as forest guards clash with bandits in Kwara

One of the newly deployed forest guards assigned to combat banditry in Kwara State has been killed during an operation in the forest.

The incident occurred on Sunday in the Koro community, Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that forest guards, working alongside local vigilantes, had received intelligence about the presence of suspected armed bandits in the bush.

Acting on the information, the operatives moved into the area but were reportedly ambushed during the encounter.

A forest guard, identified simply as Samuel, was shot during the ambush and later confirmed dead.

There were also reports that the attackers set more than five motorcycles ablaze during the incident.

The development threw residents of the community into panic.

Confirming the incident, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, told Daily Trust on Sunday night that the situation was not a direct attack on Koro community.

“It was not that gunmen attacked Koro. What happened was that the forest guards and vigilantes were informed about the presence of suspected gunmen in the bush with some cows,” he said.

According to the police commissioner, the operatives moved to confront the suspects without notifying the police.

“During the confrontation, one forest guard was killed. His AK 47 rifle and 15 rounds of ammunition were intact and were later recovered. They did not take them away. So I believe it was a case of friendly fire,” Ojo said.

He added that “it was not that bandits attacked the community”.

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