Youths Protest As Bandits Kill Kwara Vigilante Commander

Youths of the Igbaja community of Ifelodun Local Government Area in Kwara State trooped out en mass to protest the killing of Lukman Balogun, who was tragically killed during a recent rescue mission.

Naija News learnt that the deceased, a commander of a vigilante group, was widely regarded as a formidable adversary to the bandit groups that had been terrorizing the area.

Balogun, until his unfortunate demise on Monday, served as the Jagun of Igbaja.

According to Channels Television, local sources noted that the individual was killed by the kidnappers who had infiltrated the community on Sunday and subsequently abducted three women.

Furthermore, it was reported that two additional individuals were kidnapped from Kajola village during the early hours of Tuesday.

The protestors accused the suspected itinerant cattle herders of being responsible for the brutal act.

Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, the Coordinator of the Kwara South Elders Security Forum, who was informed about the abduction of five individuals, confirmed the death of the vigilante leader during a confrontation with the kidnappers over a gun duel.

“Right now, the combined team of police, military and vigilante men are in the forest around Igbaja and Oke-Ode searching for the abducted victims,” he said.

Another source disclosed that Balogun was among the team on the trail of some kidnappers who had abducted a prominent resident of the town.

“It was at Ogele-Yaaru road that our Balogun was killed,” a source said.

Reacting to the development, the paramount ruler, Elese of Igbaja land, Oba Ahmed Babalola Arepo III, charged the protesters to be calm, describing Balogun’s death as a big blow.

He reassured the youth population that the individuals responsible for the heinous crime would be captured and prosecuted accordingly.

Furthermore, the Chairman of the Ifelodun Local Government Area, Femi Yusuf, who spearheaded a delegation to the region, expressed his condolences to the affected community regarding the demise of Jagun. He pledged that every effort would be made to locate and apprehend the kidnappers and murderers of the deceased vigilante leader.

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Toun Ejire-Adeyem, confirmed the occurrence of the incident and characterized it as “unfortunate.” She further stated that law enforcement officers are actively pursuing the kidnappers.