Youths protest killing of vigilante commandant in Kwara
By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin
Youths in the Igbaja community, located in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, took to the streets on Tuesday to protest the murder of the commandant of a local vigilante group, Chief Lukman Balogun.
Balogun, who was the Jagun of Igbaja land and the Commandant of the local vigilante group, was killed on Monday evening.
Sources in the town revealed that he was allegedly killed by kidnappers, believed to be itinerant herdsmen, who invaded the community on Sunday and abducted three people early Monday. Two more individuals were reportedly kidnapped from the nearby Kajola village on Tuesday morning.
Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, Coordinator of the Kwara South Elders Security Forum, confirmed the abduction of five people. He stated, “Three people were kidnapped from Igbaja in the early hours of Monday, and two others were taken from Kajola village on Tuesday.”
He also confirmed that Chief Lukman Balogun died in a gunfight between vigilante members and the kidnappers.
“The Jagun of Igbaja land, Chief Lukman Balogun, died on Monday evening during an exchange of fire between the vigilante group and the kidnappers who had abducted residents. The vigilante members were on a rescue mission in the forest,” Oyin-Zubair explained in a phone conversation.
He further revealed that a combined team of police, military, and vigilante members were conducting search operations in the forests around Igbaja and Oke-Ode to locate the kidnapped victims.
The protesting youths accused Bororo herdsmen of committing the crime, vowing to hold them accountable. According to another source, Chief Balogun was killed on the Ogele-Yaaru road while pursuing the kidnappers who had abducted a prominent resident of the town.
The Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) in Kwara State, Comrade Afolabi Lukman, described the late security commander as a major obstacle to criminal activity in the area.
“He played a significant role in assisting the police in combating crime in Igbaja land,” Afolabi stated, urging the state government to reinforce security measures, adding that Balogun’s death was a major setback for the state’s security framework.
As of Tuesday evening, the Kwara State Police Command had not yet confirmed the abductions or Balogun’s killing. Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ajayi Okasanmi, and the State Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to both officials went unanswered.
In response to the unrest, the paramount ruler of Igbaja, Elese of Igbaja land, Oba Ahmed Babalola Arepo III, appealed to the protesters to remain calm.
He described the death of Jagun as a significant loss to the community and assured the youths that the perpetrators would be apprehended and brought to justice.
The Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Femi Yusuf, who led a delegation to the area, expressed his condolences to the community.
He also assured residents that efforts were being made to track down the kidnappers responsible for the killing of Chief Lukman Balogun.
