Troops and forest security are combing the forests in Oke-Ode, a community in Kwara State where 12 members of a local forest guard unit were killed by bandits yesterday.
The State Police Command today confirmed the killings.
Among those murdered was the traditional ruler of the community.
The attack underscored the worsening insecurity in North-West and North-Central zones, where armed bandits have carried out mass killings, kidnappings and raids on rural communities.
State Police Command spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the gunmen stormed a Local Government building at about 0600 GMT on Sunday, firing at random.
Four people were wounded in the attack and are receiving treatment in hospital, the spokesman said.
State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has condemned the attack and called for increased military presence in the area.
In response, Nigerian Army headquarters in Abuja deployed troops to the State to oversee operations, the Governor’s Office said in a statement.
“Those responsible will be brought to justice,” Ejire-Adeyemi said.
PHOTO CAPTION: File photo of bandits.
