Kwara Forest Guards Decry Neglect and Starvation After Deadly Terrorist Attack
A senior commander of the Forest Guard in Kwara state has issued a distress alarm, highlighting the dire conditions faced by operatives in the aftermath of a brutal terrorist attack that claimed the lives of five colleagues in Kaiama Local Government Area. The commander, speaking exclusively, revealed that guards deployed to the remote Woro axis are battling heavily armed terrorists without access to food, salaries, or adequate weaponry, describing their situation as being sent to die.
Operatives Left to Suffer Without Basic Necessities
In a detailed account, the commander explained that forest guards stationed in Woro, Kaiama LGA, have endured severe hardship for the past three months, with no provisions for food or payment of allowances. He stated, "We, the Forest Guard officers posted to Woro, Kaiama Local Government of Kwara state, for the past three months, are suffering here, no food, no payment of allowance. They abandoned us." This outcry follows a deadly assault on the Nuku community, where armed bandits stormed the area around 3:00 a.m. on Friday, April 10, killing at least five forest guards in a sporadic shooting incident that overpowered local security forces.
Vulnerability Exposed by Recent Tragedy
The commander lamented that the government has failed to take action to improve the lives of the operatives since the attack. He disclosed, "A few days ago, the bandits came and attacked us and killed five officers. Up till now, the government has not done anything to improve our lives, sir." Beyond the loss of their colleagues, those remaining on duty are grappling with hunger, illness, and fear, which severely hampers their ability to confront terrorists effectively. He added, "We hardly eat to survive. Officers are very sick. We can't continue to face these terrorists with empty stomachs. We don't have good weapons. It is just like the government deployed us to go and die."
Accusations of Neglect and Broken Promises
Further accusations were leveled against authorities for neglecting injured personnel and failing to fulfill promises made during the launch of the forest guard initiative. The commander noted, "No salary, no sick allowances. Some of us who got injured have no proper treatment. All the promises President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq made to us have not been fulfilled." He issued a stark warning that without urgent intervention, the situation could lead to a total collapse of local security, stating, "If this continues, we will leave our post for these terrorists to enter the community."
Growing Pattern of Attacks in Kaiama LGA
The recent killing in Nuku is part of an escalating pattern of terrorist attacks in Kaiama LGA, where both civilians and security operatives have been repeatedly targeted, exploiting the weak security presence in remote communities. Residents reported that the death of the five forest guards, including a unit commander, has dealt a significant blow to ongoing efforts to secure the area, leaving many communities vulnerable to further assaults. With morale among frontline operatives rapidly declining, concerns are mounting that the security crisis in Kwara's border communities could deteriorate even further without immediate action.
Related Incident Highlights Ongoing Threats
In a related development, suspected terrorists killed a traveller and abducted two others along the Egbe–Koro highway in Kwara state during a Sunday evening attack on April 12. The attackers ambushed commuters along the Kwara–Kogi border road, opening fire on vehicles and causing widespread panic. The victim, identified as Eri Okan, was travelling home when he was killed during the assault, underscoring the persistent security challenges in the region.
