Kwara Vigilante Commander Killed During Rescue Of Kidnapped Victims

Kidnappers have killed the Commander of a vigilante group, Lukman Balogun, during a rescue operation in the Igbaja community of the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Following the development, aggrieved youths in the community on Tuesday took to the streets to protest the killing.

They described the deceased as a thorn in the flesh of the bandits terrorising the community.

Balogun was until his death on Monday evening the Jagun of Igbajaland.

Sources in the town said that the victim was killed by kidnappers who invaded the community on Sunday and abducted three women.

Another two people were reportedly kidnapped from Kajola village in the early hours of Tuesday.

The youths alleged that suspected itinerant cattle herders perpetrated the heinous crime.

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Coordinator of Kwara South Elders Security Forum, Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, who confirmed the abduction of five persons, said the late vigilante leader died during a gun duel between his men and the kidnappers.

“Right now, the combined team of police, military and vigilante men are in the forest around Igbaja and Oke-Ode searching for the abducted victims,” he said.

Another source said that the deceased was among the team on the trail of some kidnappers who had abducted a prominent resident of the town.

“It was at Ogele-Yaaru road that our Balogun was killed,” a source said.

Meanwhile, the paramount ruler, Elese of Igbaja land, Oba Ahmed Babalola Arepo III, has charged the protesters to be calm, describing Balogun’s death as a big blow.

He assured the youths that the perpetrators of the dastardly act would be apprehended and brought to book.

Also, the Chairman of the Ifelodun Local Government Area, Femi Yusuf, who led a delegation to the area, commiserated with the community on the death of Jagun and assured them that all hands would be on deck to track down the kidnappers and killers of the late vigilante leader.

A spokeswoman for the State Police Command, Toun Ejire-Adeyem,  confirmed the incident and described it “as unfortunate”, adding that policemen are on the trail of the kidnappers.