Panic as gunmen abduct women, kill vigilante commander in popular northcentral state

• Protests broke out in the Igbaja community, Ifelodun LGA in Kwara state following the death of prominent vigilante commander, Chief Lukman Balogun
• The vigilante commander was killed by gunmen while trying to rescue three kidnapped Fulani women
• The paramount ruler of Igbaja, Oba Ahmed Babalola Arepo III, has sent messages to the protesting youths of the community

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 5 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international events

Kwara state - A prominent vigilante commander, Chief Lukman Balogun, has been killed by gunmen during a rescue operation to save three kidnapped Fulani women Igbaja community, Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state.

The tragic incident occurred during a gun battle between Balogun’s vigilante group and the kidnappers on Monday evening, September 30.

The vigilante commander was killed during a gun battle with kidnappers
Source: UGC

According to Daily Trust, residents said the Fulani women were kidnapped on Sunday, September 29.

Sources said Balogun was on the trail of the kidnappers who had previously abducted a prominent Igbaja resident when he was killed on the Ogele-Yaaru road.

Youths of the community stormed the streets in protest to express their anger and grief over the loss of Balogun, who served as the Jagun of Igbaja land.

Fears of insecurity heightened in the area after two other individuals were reportedly kidnapped from Kajola village early on Tuesday, October 1.

Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, Coordinator of the Kwara South Elders Security Forum, disclosed that a combined team of police, military, and vigilante members is currently searching the forests around Igbaja and Oke-Ode for the victims.

The paramount ruler of Igbaja, Oba Ahmed Babalola Arepo III, assured the protesting youths that the authorities would apprehend the perpetrators.

Gunmen kill policeman, vigilante in Sokoto

In a similar development, Legit.ng reported that gunmen ambushed and killed a police officer and a vigilante during a patrol at Kwanan Milgoma on the Sokoto-Bodinga road.

The incident occurred around 3 a.m., with details about the cause and extent of the attack still unfolding.

At the time of the attack, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda was attending a zonal town hall meeting in Funtua.

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Source: Legit.ng