Gov AbdulRazaq Donates ₦10m to Family of Forest Guard Killed in Fierce Ambush by Bandits

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has honored the memory of a fallen security volunteer, Omotosho Olawuyi Samuel, with a ₦10 million donation to his bereaved family. Samuel, a forest guard described as a “brave patriot,” was killed on Sunday during a bloody confrontation with suspected kidnappers in the Koro community of Ekiti Local Government Area.

The forest guard was part of a courageous joint task force of local hunters and vigilantes who moved into the bush on February 8 after receiving intelligence that armed bandits were gathering near the border with Kogi State. However, the team walked into a deadly ambush. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, Samuel was fatally hit, though his colleagues managed to repel the attackers and recover his service weapon and ammunition.

In a tribute released on Wednesday, Governor AbdulRazaq called the incident a “devastating loss” for the state’s security architecture. “He is our hero, and we ask God to give succour to his family,” the Governor stated. “This ₦10 million support is a small token of the government’s gratitude for his sacrifice. We will not abandon those who lay down their lives so that our communities can sleep in peace.”

The killing has put the border communities on high alert. The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, clarified that the “bush encounter” prevented a direct attack on Koro township, praising the forest guards for their proactive stance.

This latest donation is part of the Governor’s ongoing “State of Harmony” security policy, which includes providing insurance and logistical support to local volunteers who serve as the first line of defense against rural banditry. As the 2026 counter-terrorism campaign intensifies across Kwara North and South, the Governor has reassured the public that the military’s “Operation Savannah Shield” will continue to hunt down the perpetrators responsible for Samuel’s death.