Conflicting Accounts Emerge Following Deadly Kwara State Attack
A cloud of confusion and skepticism hangs over Ilesa Baruba in Kwara State's Baruteen Local Government Area following a violent attack that has sparked a major dispute between local residents and the state police command. The incident, which resulted in multiple fatalities, has become mired in contradictory narratives that threaten to erode public trust in official security communications.
Police Statement Faces Community Scrutiny
In an official statement released on April 22, 2025, the Kwara State Police Command presented what appeared to be a comprehensive account of the security situation. Police Public Relations Officer SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi announced that investigators had successfully arrested an informant who allegedly collaborated with bandits involved in the violence. The police spokesperson described this individual as "a valuable asset in advancing the investigation" while providing specific details about the incident.
The official police narrative claimed that ten suspected armed men stormed the Ilesha Baruba Motor Park, opening fire indiscriminately and resulting in six fatalities with two others sustaining serious gunshot injuries. Authorities further emphasized that full security architecture has been activated, including tactical teams, intensified surveillance, and intelligence-led operations aimed at restoring peace and order throughout the affected communities.
Eyewitnesses Challenge Official Version
Community members and direct eyewitnesses have presented a starkly different account that contradicts multiple aspects of the police statement. According to local sources who spoke with journalists, the actual death toll stands at eight victims rather than the six reported by authorities. Eyewitness Danmusa Faruk provided detailed testimony challenging the official timeline and location details.
"Although there is a mix-up on the written information, it is said 21st of Sunday and yesterday was Monday, right? Ilesa and Kamanji are two different places. Kamanji is in Kaiama Local Government while Ilesa Baruba is in Baruten. They are just mixing information. Eight people were shot, and all eight are now dead," Faruk explained, highlighting geographical discrepancies in the police account.
Faruk further detailed that seven victims received burial in Ilesa Baruba during a Tuesday morning mass burial ceremony, while the eighth victim—a 13-year-old apprentice from the Republic of Benin—was transported across the border for interment with his family. This detailed account directly challenges the official casualty figures presented by law enforcement authorities.
Arrest Claims Meet Community Skepticism
The police assertion regarding the arrest of an informant has faced particularly strong skepticism from residents who maintain close connections to community security matters. One well-informed local resident, who described himself as "very conversant with information and vigilant," outright rejected the arrest claim during interviews with journalists.
"I am not aware of the arrest of any suspect... Even the soldier that came from Shaki, we accompanied him to the police station. We just came back, and there is no such arrest. Maybe it happened somewhere else entirely but not in Ilesa Baruba," the resident stated, suggesting potential geographical confusion in police reporting.
This skepticism extends to what residents perceive as a pattern of misleading communications. The police mention of a separate incident involving vigilante casualties in Kemanji—located in a different local government area—has fueled suspicions that security officials may be combining separate attacks into a single narrative, further complicating efforts to establish factual clarity.
Community Demands Transparency and Accountability
As conflicting accounts continue to circulate, community members have issued strong calls for greater transparency and more substantive security responses. Residents express frustration with what they perceive as inadequate on-the-ground security improvements despite official promises of enhanced protection measures.
Ismail, a resident from nearby Okuta town, articulated the community's growing impatience: "We need more than just press statements... The attack happened, people died, and the community is still grieving. If there's been an arrest, we deserve to know who, where, and how." This sentiment reflects broader concerns about the credibility gap between official communications and community experiences.
The situation remains tense as residents await clearer information about both the attack itself and subsequent security responses. With trust in official narratives significantly eroded, community leaders emphasize the urgent need for verified facts and demonstrable security improvements to prevent further violence and restore public confidence in law enforcement institutions.
