Suspected bandits have again struck in Kwara State, killing five forest guards during a fresh attack on Nuku village in Kaiama Local Government Area in the early hours of Friday.

The assailants reportedly stormed the community at about 3:00 a.m., shooting sporadically and throwing residents into panic as they unleashed violence on the settlement.

A community source, who spoke to PUNCH Online on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said the attackers arrived in large numbers and operated for hours without resistance.

The source said, “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.”

In addition to the loss of lives, several properties were destroyed during the assault.

“The motorcycles belonging to the forest guards were set ablaze, while patrol vehicles operated by the mobile police were also burnt,” the source added.

The Kwara State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement as of the time of filing this report.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, told our correspondent that she did not have details of the attack but promised to provide updates when 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, many of whom continue to express concern over the deteriorating security situation in the area.

The 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 also been triggered by the emergence of a new video on Thursday showing abducted villagers from Woro and surrounding communities, with victims 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.

“We have small children with us and some women are pregnant,” another captive added in Yoruba. “Please, Kwara State Government, Oyo State Government, help us. This is the last chance they gave us,” ” a young woman in the footage dated April 8 said in English.

In the background of the video, 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.

“They said those abducted were about 25 or 30. Let them look here. Ask them how many they are,” one of the gunmen had said in Hausa.

“We are 174,” some of the women responded, although other segments suggested the number could be as high as 176.

Reacting to the development at the time, the Kwara State Government expressed concern over the videos and reassured residents of intensified rescue efforts.

“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 said, “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.

“For this reason, neither the state government nor security agencies have announced a definitive figure. Our priority remains the safe rescue of every affected citizen,” she added.

Despite these assurances, residents say the renewed attack on Nuku underscores the persistent vulnerability of rural communities in the area, as families of abducted victims continue to wait anxiously for their loved ones’ return.

Real Madrid has stated that rumors on considering incorporating a sports director into its structure are categorically false.

According to Fabrizio Romano’s X post on Friday, the club was quoted as saying, “Real Madrid extraordinarily values the work that the club’s sports management has been carrying out, which has allowed us to live through one of the most successful periods in our entire history with the achievement of numerous titles, including 6 European Cups in ten years.”

It strongly reaffirm confidence in its current sporting management structure.

It also praise the existing leadership, crediting it for one of the most successful eras in the club’s history.

As evidence, they point to major achievements, including six UEFA Champions League titles in the last decade.

Overall, it’s a standard club statement aimed at shutting down speculation while reinforcing trust in their current internal setup.

Madrid have long operated with a distinct organisational model, where key transfer and sporting decisions are primarily overseen by senior executives and trusted football leadership rather than a traditional sporting director structure common in many European clubs.

The club’s denial comes amid continued speculation in Spanish football media about potential internal changes, particularly as elite clubs across Europe increasingly adopt centralized sporting director systems to streamline recruitment and long-term squad planning.

Suspected gunmen have killed a woman and her daughter at a poultry farm in Igushi community, near Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday, also saw three other workers abducted by the assailants.

Sources in the community said the gunmen gained access to the farm by scaling the fence and attempted to kidnap workers before shooting the two victims.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers later took three persons away from the farm.

He said, “The gunmen came through the fence. They were about five and took three people away. Later, we found the woman who owns the poultry and her daughter dead.

“We quickly called the police and the Amotekun, who mobilised their men to the scene. They’ve later rescued the victims.”