Tragedy struck in Karongi town, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, when armed men suspected to be members of the notorious Mahmuda group launched a deadly attack on the community.
The assault, which began in the early hours of the morning, claimed the life of one person and left several houses in ruins.
Local sources revealed that the attackers exploited the absence of community vigilantes, many of whom had traveled for an Eid-el-Kabir celebration or were away attending a training workshop. Seizing the opportunity, the bandits descended on Karongi at about 6:00 a.m. and held the town hostage until around 11:00 a.m.
According to eyewitness accounts, it took a combined force of soldiers and vigilante groups from neighboring communities to eventually repel the attackers. The swift intervention reportedly forced the gunmen to retreat.
While the Kwara State Police Command initially claimed ignorance of the incident, the Nigerian Army confirmed the attack on Monday. Speaking with our correspondent, Lieutenant Stephen Nwankwo, Public Relations Officer of the 22 Brigade, Sobi, Ilorin, verified that one vigilante was killed and several makeshift homes were torched during the raid.
“Yes, the incident happened. I’m aware. One of the vigilantes was killed while some makeshift houses were set ablaze by the gunmen. Soldiers were alerted and immediately moved to the village, but the assailants fled upon sighting the troops,” Lt. Nwankwo stated.
The Emir of Yashikira Emirate, Alhaji Umoru Sariki, also confirmed the attack during a phone interview, lamenting the brazen assault on his people.
He said: “Yes, the bandits from the Mahmuda group struck at about 6 a.m. on Sunday. They attacked Karongi town in my Emirate, killed one person, and burnt many houses. They took advantage of the absence of the vigilantes who had travelled for Sallah and a workshop. We had to mobilise vigilantes from neighboring settlements to chase them away by around 11 a.m.”
The Emir further noted the delayed response from soldiers, as the nearest military post is stationed in Chikanda, a considerable distance from Karongi.
The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, when contacted on Sunday, said she was not aware of the attack but promised to investigate and provide updates.
The attack has sparked renewed concerns over rural security in Kwara State, especially in remote communities bordering Nigeria’s northwestern states where banditry remains a persistent threat.
