Monday, June 1, 2026 -A prominent cleric, Alfa Iliasu, has been hacked to d3ath in llesha-Baruba community, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Community leaders confirmed that the cleric, who was widely
respected across Baruten and neighbouring communities, was k!lled under
controversial circumstances.
The member representing Okuta/Yashikira constituency in the
Kwara State House of Assembly, Muhammed Baba Saliu, said the community was
still piecing together details of the tragedy.
"I know the cleric has been butchered and buried. Along
the line, there are reports that among those who k!lled him, one of them was
k!lled, another was arrested and another one went away. There are many reports
coming in and I will speak further when I have a fuller grasp of the whole
situation,” the lawmaker said.
A former chairman of Baruten Local Government, Abdulrasheed
Ibrahim, said preliminary accounts indicated that the attack occurred around 9
a.m. while Quranic lessons were ongoing within the cleric’s compound.
He said the cleric was rushed to hospital but later d!ed
from the injuries sustained in the attack, adding that the suspect was later
lynched.
Ibrahim added that the suspect was apprehended and taken
into police custody before events escalated, leading to mob action and wider
unrest within the community.
The Emir of Ilesha-Baruba, Alhaji Halidu Abubakar, confirmed
the incident in a chat with Daily Trust.
He said traditional and religious leaders immediately
intervened to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
“One man went and k!lled a prominent Islamic cleric, Alfa
Ilyas, with a cutlass. Nobody really knows what transpired between them before
the attack,” the monarch said, adding that they later appealed to the youths
over the matter.
The emir, however, acknowledged that despite the appeals,
some angry youths allegedly attacked properties belonging to some residents
before security operatives restored order.
But the Seriki Fulani of Ilesha-Baruba, Ardo Muhammed
Abdullahi, alleged that the violence extended beyond the suspect and affected
innocent residents.
Abdullahi claimed that the suspected attacker, identified
only as Seke, popularly known as “Boso,” was a labourer known within the
community and had previously been involved in disputes over unpaid wages.
“Only God knows what happened between him and Alfa Iliasu,
but it appears there may have been a disagreement. He entered the cleric’s
house and attacked him before trying to escape,” he said.
According to the Fulani leader, the suspect was initially
apprehended by residents and taken to a police station before a mob allegedly
overpowered security personnel, removed him from custody and lynched him.
He alleged that the violence later spread to other residents
who had no connection to the attack.
“They burnt my three houses completely, including those
belonging to members of my family. My wife and children narrowly escaped. As I
speak, two of my children are still missing and I do not know whether they are
alive or d3ad,” he said.
Abdullahi further claimed that several people were k!lled
during the unrest and warned that failure to address the situation could
heighten tensions between communities that have coexisted for decades.
He said he had reported the incident to security agencies
and expressed disappointment that properties belonging to individuals he
described as long-standing contributors to peace and security in the area were
targeted.
The Fulani leader also disclosed plans to relocate from the
community, citing concerns over the safety of his family and property.
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