Wednesday, October 2, 2024 -Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed a prominent vigilante commander, Chief Lukman Balogun during an operation to rescue three Fulani women who were abducted from Igbaja community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Residents said the women were
kidnapped on Sunday while Balogun was killed on Monday evening, September 30,
2024, during a gun battle between his vigilante group and the kidnappers.
Following the murder of Balogun, who served
as the Jagun of Igbaja land, local youths took to the streets in protest,
expressing their anger and grief over the loss of their leader.
It was also gathered that two other
individuals were kidnapped from Kajola village early on Tuesday, heightening
fears of insecurity in the area.
Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, Coordinator of
the Kwara South Elders Security Forum, confirmed the abduction of the five
individuals and noted that Balogun died while attempting to rescue the
kidnapped women.
He said a combined team of police, military
and vigilante members is currently searching the forests around Igbaja and
Oke-Ode for the victims.
Sources said Balogun was on the trail of
the kidnappers who had previously abducted a prominent resident of Igbaja when
he was killed on the Ogele-Yaaru road.
The paramount ruler of
Igbaja, Oba Ahmed Babalola Arepo III, called for calm among the protesters,
describing Balogun’s death as a significant loss for the community.
He assured the youths that the authorities
would apprehend the perpetrators.
The Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government,
Alhaji Femi Yusuf, visited the area to express condolences and promised that
efforts would be intensified to track down the kidnappers and bring them to
justice.
The spokesman for the state police command,
DSP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, described the incident as “unfortunate” and assured
that police efforts are ongoing to locate the kidnappers.
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