Suspected Mahmuda gunmen attacked Karongi town in Kwara State, killing one vigilante and setting homes ablaze during Eid-el-Kabir. Army confirms the incident

[dropcap]K[/dropcap]wara violence escalated on Sunday as suspected gunmen from the Mahmuda group attacked Karongi town in Baruten Local Government Area, killing one person and setting several homes ablaze.

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The attack occurred in the early hours of the morning and lasted until around 11am, with gunmen taking advantage of the absence of local vigilantes, many of whom were away celebrating Eid-el-Kabir or attending a training workshop.

Eyewitness accounts confirmed that the attackers freely operated in the community for hours before being dislodged by a combined force of soldiers and vigilantes mobilised from neighbouring areas.

The Emir of Yashikira, Alhaji Umoru Sariki, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation. “Yes, the bandits from Mahmuda group struck at about 6 am on Sunday.

They attacked Karongi town in my Emirate. They killed one person and burnt many houses in the community,” he said.

He added that the town was left vulnerable due to the absence of the local security network, and criticised the distance of military deployments, saying:

“The soldiers were far away… the army was stationed in Chikanda which is far from the community.”

While the Kwara State Police Command’s spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, claimed ignorance of the incident, the Nigerian Army confirmed the attack.

Lt. Stephen Nwankwo, spokesperson for the 22 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Sobi, Ilorin, said, “Yes, the incident happened.

I’m aware. One of the vigilantes was killed while some makeshift houses were set ablaze. The bandits ran away on sighting the soldiers.”

Local sources say the victim was a vigilante who accompanied the soldiers to the village during the response operation.

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The latest episode underscores rising insecurity in parts of Kwara State and the growing threat posed by armed groups exploiting local vulnerabilities, especially during festive periods or in the absence of regular security patrols..