|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Unknown gunmen assumed to be members of ‘Mahmuda’ Group had attacked Karongi town in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, killed one person and burnt many houses in the community.
The bandits, who invaded the town early in the morning, reportedly killed a resident before setting some houses ablaze.
It was gathered that the bandits took advantage of the absence of the local vigilance group in the community who had earlier travelled to attend a training workshop while others had traveled out to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir outside the community.
It was further gathered that the gunmen who had a field day in the community between 6am and 11am were however dislodged from the community by the combined team of soldiers and vigilance group mobilised from the adjoining settlements in the area.
Though the Police feigned ignorance on the attack in Karongi, the Nigerian Army confirmed the incident.
Emir of Yashikira Emirate in Baruten local government, Alhaji Umoru Sariki, confirmed the incident to journalists.
The Emir, said that one person was killed during the attack while many houses were burnt by the bandits.
Read also: Govt reaffirms commitment to combating insecurity in Kogi
Sariki said, “Yes, the bandits from Mahmuda group struck at about 6am on Sunday morning. They attacked Karongi town in my Emirate. They killed one person and burned many houses in the community.
“They took advantage of the absence of Vigilante men who have traveled for Sallah while some had also gone for training. They invaded the town for hours, from 6am to 11am. We have to go to the surrounding communities in the Emirate to mobilize local Vigilante who succeeded to chase them away at about 11o’clock.
“I’m not happy about the development”.
The Emir noted that “the Soldiers were far away adding, the Army was stationed in Chikanda which is far away to the community.”
Alhaji Umoru however, appealed to the Federal Government and the Military to establish a military base in Karongi or other Community near the area to safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerians living in the area.
When the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi was contacted, she said that she was not aware of the attack.
“I’m not aware of this incident, I will do my findings and get back to you”, she noted.
The Public Relations Officer of the 22 brigade of the Nigerian Army, Sobi, Ilorin, Lt Stephen Nwankwo however confirmed the attack on Monday, saying “yes the incident happened. I’m aware, One of the Vigilante men was killed while some make shift houses were set ablaze by the gunmen.
“The Soldiers were alerted about the incident and they went to the village. The person that was killed was one of the Vigilante men who escorted the Soldiers to the village.
“The bandits ran away on sighting the Soldiers and escaped from the area,” the Army spokesperson said
