In the early hours of Sunday morning, suspected members of the infamous “Mahmuda” terrorist group launched a brutal assault on Karongi, a town in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State. The attackers took advantage of the temporary absence of local vigilante personnel—many of whom were away attending a training session or participating in Eid-el-Kabir festivities outside the community.
The assault, which lasted from around 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., resulted in the death of one resident and widespread destruction, including the burning of several homes. The attackers reportedly operated without resistance for hours before being driven back by a joint team of soldiers and vigilantes from nearby towns.
Emir of Yashikira, Umoru Sariki, confirmed the incident, stating, “The bandits struck early on Sunday morning. They killed one person and set multiple houses on fire. They exploited the absence of local security volunteers who had traveled for Sallah celebrations and training.”
He noted that reinforcements had to be mobilized from surrounding communities within the Emirate to repel the assailants. In light of the attack, the Emir urged the Nigerian government and military to establish a permanent security presence in Karongi or nearby areas to safeguard residents.
While the Kwara State Police Command’s spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said she had no information about the attack, Lieutenant Stephen Nwankwo, Public Relations Officer for the 22 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Sobi, Ilorin, confirmed the incident on Monday.
According to Nwankwo, soldiers were deployed to the scene following reports of the invasion. He revealed that the person killed during the attack was a member of the vigilante group who had accompanied the troops to the village. “Yes, the incident occurred,” he said. “One of the vigilantes who went with the soldiers was killed, and some temporary structures were set ablaze by the gunmen.”
