Suspected bandits have struck again in Kwara State, killing five forest guards in a brutal early-morning raid on Nuku village in Kaiama Local Government Area. The attackers stormed the community around 3:00 a.m. on Friday, April 10, 2026, shooting sporadically and throwing residents into panic as they unleashed terror on the settlement. A community source, who spoke to ReportNaija on condition of anonymity over fears of reprisal, said the gunmen arrived in large numbers through their usual route and operated freely for hours without any resistance. “They entered through their usual route in large numbers in the early hours of today, April 10, 2026, at Nuku. They started shooting directly and, within a short time, killed several innocent people, including the newly recruited forest guards,” the source said. In addition to the loss of lives, the assailants destroyed several properties. Motorcycles belonging to the forest guards were set ablaze, while patrol vehicles operated by the mobile police were also burnt, according to the source. As of the time of this report, the Kwara State Police Command is yet to issue an official statement on the incident. When contacted, the Command’s spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, told ReportNaija she had not been briefed about the attack but promised to provide updates as soon as more information becomes available. “I have not been briefed about the incident, but I will get back to you as soon as I have information,” she said. The latest killings have heightened fear among residents, who continue to express deep concern over the worsening security situation in the area. This fresh attack comes barely two months after a deadly assault on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities in the same local government area, where over 200 people were reportedly killed and about 176 others abducted, including women and children. Fresh anxiety has been triggered by the emergence of a new video on Thursday showing some of the abducted villagers from Woro and surrounding communities making desperate appeals for government intervention. “We are begging you, this is our last opportunity. We have been here since February 3. Please, come to our rescue,” one captive pleaded. Another captive, a young woman speaking in English, added: “We have small children with us and some women are pregnant. Please, Kwara State Government, Oyo State Government, help us. This is the last chance they gave us.” In the background, one of the armed men claimed responsibility for the abduction while attempting to justify the act. “We are the ones who kidnapped them. They have been begging us, and we have given them this opportunity so their government can hear from them,” he said. Earlier footage released in February had shown rows of women and children surrounded by armed men, with some of the captives confirming they were taken from Woro and Kaiama in Kwara State. The number of those abducted was put at between 174 and 176. Reacting to the videos at the time, the Kwara State Government expressed concern and reassured residents of intensified efforts to rescue the victims. “The Kwara State Government is deeply concerned over the disturbing video allegedly showing persons abducted during the February 3 attack,” the Commissioner for Communications, Mrs Bolanle Olukoju, said in a statement. Olukoju added: “Our thoughts are with all the families affected, and we reaffirm our commitment to securing the safe return of all those impacted.” She, however, cautioned against speculation on the exact number of abducted persons, noting that conflicting reports from affected communities had made verification difficult. Despite the government’s assurances, residents say the renewed attack on Nuku underscores the persistent vulnerability of rural communities in the area, even as families of the abducted victims continue to wait anxiously for the safe return of their loved ones.