Gov AbdulRazaq mourns Kwara forest guard killed by armed bandits, present N10m to his family

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Kwara State Governor has mourned the sudden death of a gallant forest guard, Mr. Omotosho Olawuyi Samuel, who was killed by armed bandits during a gun duel between the security operatives and the terrorists in Koro community of Ekiti Local Government Area.

According to a statement by the governor’s Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor’s spokesperson, the governor, while commending the bravery and patriotism of the forest guards and local vigilantes who launched an assault on the fleeing kidnappers, announced a N10m support for the family of the operative as a token of government’s gratitude for his sacrifice — apart from him going down as a hero of the people’s collective war against banditry.

He commiserated with the family of Mr. Samuel and his comrades who bravely fought along with him.

“He is our hero, and we ask God to give succour to his family,” a statement quoted the Governor as saying.

The Informant247 had earlier reported that one of the newly deployed forest guards assigned to tackle banditry in Kwara State was killed during a security operation in the forest.

The incident occurred on Sunday in Koro community, Ekiti Local Government Area of the state, after forest guards and local vigilantes acted on intelligence reports about the presence of suspected armed men in the bush.

Sources said the operatives moved into the area to confront the suspects but were ambushed during the encounter. A forest guard, identified simply as Samuel, was shot and later confirmed dead.

The clash also reportedly led to the burning of more than five motorcycles, sparking panic among residents of Koro community.

Confirming the incident, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, clarified that the situation was not an attack on the community by bandits.

“It was not that gunmen attacked Koro,” Ojo said on Sunday night. “The forest guards and vigilantes received information about suspected gunmen in the bush with some cows and moved in without informing the police.”

According to the police commissioner, the slain guard’s AK-47 rifle and 15 rounds of ammunition were recovered intact, noting that the weapons were not taken away.