The police command in Kwara State is investigating a violent reprisal attack in Ilesha-Baruba, Baruten Local Government Area, where a mob allegedly killed two men and set fire to approximately 10 buildings belonging to members of the Fulani community. The violence erupted after the death of an Islamic cleric.
Police Confirm Incident
Police spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, describing the violence as criminal and a threat to public peace. According to the police, the unrest followed a confrontation on 30 May between Islamic scholar Mohammed Ilyasu and an unidentified Fulani man.
“Investigations revealed that on 30/05/2026, a violent confrontation occurred between one Mohammed Ilyasu and an unidentified Fulani man, during which both parties sustained severe machete injuries,” Ms Ejire-Adeyemi said.
Deaths and Escalation
Both men were taken to hospital for treatment, but Mr Ilyasu was pronounced dead on arrival, while the other man later died from his injuries. The situation escalated when angry youths reportedly stormed the hospital, seized the corpse of the deceased suspect, and set it ablaze.
“Rather than allowing law enforcement agencies to carry out due process, some irate youths invaded the hospital, forcefully took custody of the corpse of the deceased suspect, and set it ablaze,” the statement said. The mob also attacked another man passing through the area and burned him alive.
“In a further display of lawlessness, the mob allegedly attacked another man passing through the area and set him on fire,” the police added. The violence later spread, with about 10 buildings belonging to Fulani residents, including the residence of the Ardo Fulani, Hassan, reportedly set ablaze.
Security Deployment
Police, soldiers, and other security personnel were deployed immediately after the incident. “Upon receipt of the report, a combined team of police personnel and military operatives was swiftly deployed to the affected area, successfully restoring normalcy and preventing further escalation of violence,” Ms Ejire-Adeyemi said.
Security presence has been reinforced in the community while surveillance and monitoring continue. The Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, condemned the killings and destruction of property, warning residents against taking the law into their own hands.
“He emphasised that no individual or group has the right to take the law into their own hands irrespective of the circumstances surrounding any incident,” the police spokesperson said. Mr Adekimi directed a full investigation and ordered the identification and arrest of those involved. “The perpetrators will be identified, apprehended and made to face the full weight of the law,” the statement added.
Earlier Reports
The latest violence follows reports that Mr Ilyasu died after sustaining severe injuries during an attack in Ilesha-Baruba on Saturday. Residents told journalists that the cleric was attacked with a cutlass and rushed to hospital, where he later died. Videos on social media showed residents mourning the cleric while crowds gathered in different parts of the town.
Community sources alleged that one suspect was lynched by a mob shortly after the incident, another was arrested, and a third escaped. Mr Ilyasu was known across Baruten and neighbouring communities as an Islamic cleric whose activities attracted followers from different areas.
Rising Insecurity
The incident comes amid growing security concerns in parts of Kwara State, particularly in Baruten and Kaiama local government areas, where attacks by armed groups, kidnappings, and communal tensions have intensified. On 25 May, suspected bandits attacked Yashikira in Baruten, setting part of the Emir’s palace ablaze and abducting 10 persons, including members of the royal household.
The Kwara State Police Command said the attackers simultaneously targeted the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters and the palace in a coordinated operation. In May, suspected terrorists attacked a Police Mobile Force camp in Kaiama, killing officers and injuring others.
Several communities across Kwara North have experienced repeated attacks on farmers, travellers, traditional institutions, and rural settlements since the beginning of the year. The violence has prompted increased security deployments and meetings between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and security chiefs, including the Chief of Army Staff, to discuss strategies for addressing emerging threats.
Police authorities have appealed to residents of Ilesha-Baruba and surrounding communities to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies as investigations continue.
