•Attackers sent voice note ahead of invasion

By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin 

Tragedy again struck in Nuku community, Kaiama local government area of Kwara State as terrorists invaded the community on Friday killing six Forest Guards, including the commander.

Sunday Vanguard reliably gathered that  five Forest Guards died during the exchange of gun shots that also killed two of the terrorists.

While the shootout, which lasted about an hour ended, the terrorists reportedly went away with the corpses of their two colleagues despite the spirited efforts of the army who pursued them.

It was gathered that the terrorists had earlier sent a voice note that went viral that they were coming to attack the base of the Forest Guards on Thursday.

It was also gathered that the Forest Guards who didn’t want to take any chances were at alert awaiting the possible arrival of the terrorists.

Sunday Vanguard further gathered that the Forest Guards base, situated at the entry point of Nuku, had almost believed that the terrorists were not striking again when no fewer than 40 of them suddenly emerged from the bush around 3.45am on Friday.

Subsequently, exchange of gunfight ensued between the terrorists and Forest Guards during which five of the Forest Guards were killed, while two of the terrorists were also shot dead .

Also, patrol vehicles of the police in the area were set ablaze by the terrorists.

At press time, normalcy has returned to the community as soldiers have taken over strategic areas to prevent further possible attack by the terrorists while a dusk to dawn curfew has been imposed by the local government.

A local, who preferred anonymity in an interview with Sunday Vanguard, narrated the attack: “Loud sounds of gunshots woke us, but we couldn’t run out of our houses so as not to be killed because it was very early in the morning.

“I peeped through my window and,from what I saw, the terrorists were not less than 40, firing gun shots at the Forest Guards, while the Forest Guards were also shooting at them.

“They didn’t target residents of the community,so they didn’t come to town.It was clear that they came to attack the Forest Guards. It is not true that residents were killed.

“We learnt that during the exchange of gun shots, two of the terrorists also died but they went away with their corpses.

“The army went after them when they received signals but couldn’t recover the terrorists corpses.”

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq mourned the sad development in a statement issued on Friday by his Special  Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Alhaji Bashir Adigun.

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq  said he received with heavy heart the death of five Forest Guards as they repelled a midnight attack on their position in Nuku community of Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.

The governor has, meanwhile, constituted the Kwara State Security Strategy Committee, comprising Kwara-born retired military generals and top security officers. 

The committee consists of retired Major General GA Wahab (chairman); Maj. Gen. Yemi Abidoye; Maj-Gen. Abubakar Ndalolo; Rear Admiral Aliyu Lawal; Air Commodore ASA Buhari; AIG Aderemi Opadokun; and Lt. Col. WA Lawal. 

Permanent Secretary (General Services) Shuaib Abdulganiyu (fcia) will serve as the Secretary of the Committee.

AbdulRazaq met   the committee, Friday, for their inaugural meeting.

Similarly, Kwara State Police Command  confirmed the  latest attack in a statement issued by the spokesperson Ejire Adetoun Adeyemi 

“ýAt about 03:45hrs, bandits launched a coordinated attack on the PMF Camp at Nuku village where five members of the National Forest Guard were fatally shot by armed bandits and an extensive damage done on a patrol vehicle belonging to police operatives before the PMF personnel in the camp repelled the bandits,” the statement said.

ý”ýThe Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, CP OJO ADEKIMI psc, mnips, has expressed deep sympathy to the families of the deceased and condemns the attack in the strongest terms. 

“The Command assures residents that tactical and intelligence-driven operations have commenced to track down the perpetrators while continuous monitoring of the situation is ongoing to ensure the safety of residents and prevent further security breaches.

ý”ýMembers of the public are urged to cooperate with security agencies by providing any useful information that could aid the investigation.”