According to the police, investigations revealed that the violence began after a confrontation between an unidentified Fulani man and a respected Islamic scholar, Alhaji Mohammed Ilyasu.
The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed and condemned a wave of violent reprisal attacks, mob killings and arson that rocked Ilesha Baruba in Baruten Local Government Area of the state following a deadly altercation involving an Islamic scholar and an unidentified Fulani man.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the command described the incidents as criminal, barbaric, and a direct affront to the rule of law.
According to the police, investigations revealed that the violence began after a confrontation between an unidentified Fulani man and a respected Islamic scholar, Alhaji Mohammed Ilyasu, on May 30, 2026.
The command said both men sustained severe machete injuries during the clash and were rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention.
The statement read, “Sadly, Mohammed Ilyasu was confirmed dead on arrival, while the assailant also succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment.”
However, rather than allowing security agencies to investigate the matter, angry youths reportedly invaded the hospital, seized the corpse of the deceased Fulani suspect and set it ablaze.
The violence escalated further as the mob allegedly attacked another man who was said to be passing through the area and burnt him alive.
“In a further display of lawlessness, the mob allegedly attacked another man passing through the area and set him on fire,” the police added.
Ejire-Adeyemi further disclosed that the mob went on a rampage and razed about ten buildings belonging to members of the Fulani community in the area, including the residence of the Ardo Fulani, Alhaji Hassan.
The police said a combined team of security operatives, including police personnel and military officers, was immediately deployed to the troubled community to prevent a total breakdown of law and order.
“Upon receipt of the report, a combined team of Police personnel and military operatives was swiftly deployed to the affected area, successfully restoring normalcy and preventing further escalation of violence,” she noted.
The command added that security presence had since been reinforced in the community, while the situation remained under close monitoring.
Reacting to the killings and destruction, the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Ojo Adekimi, condemned the mob actions and warned residents against taking laws into their own hands.
“He emphasized that no individual or group has the right to take the law into their own hands irrespective of the circumstances surrounding any incident,” the statement said.
The commissioner described the reprisal attacks, arson and extra-judicial killings as unacceptable and vowed that everyone connected to the violence would be tracked down and prosecuted.
“Meanwhile, the Command has launched a full-scale investigation and manhunt for all persons involved in the retaliatory attacks, arson, and unlawful killings. The perpetrators will be identified, apprehended, and made to face the full weight of the law,” the police stated.
CP Adekimi also appealed to residents of the area to remain calm and avoid actions capable of triggering ethnic tensions or further violence.
“He reassures all communities in the area of the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property without bias and ensuring that justice is served,” the statement added.
SaharaReporters previously reported that a prominent Islamic cleric, Iliasu, had been killed following a violent attack by suspected Fulani assailants at his residence in Ilesha-Baruba, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The attack, which occurred on Saturday has thrown the community into mourning as residents gathered in large numbers to grieve the cleric’s death and demand justice.
According to information obtained by SaharaReporters, the attackers stormed Iliasu’s residence and allegedly struck him on the head with a cutlass, inflicting severe injuries.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the cleric was immediately rushed to a hospital for emergency treatment. However, he reportedly died before medical personnel could attend to him due to the severity of the injuries sustained during the attack.
A video obtained by SaharaReporters showed emotional scenes in the aftermath of the incident.
In the footage, residents of Ilesha-Baruba were seen mourning the slain cleric while crowds trooped out in large numbers across the community.
The video also captured the moment one of the suspects allegedly linked to the attack was lynched by an angry mob in front of a police station.
Residents were seen dragging the suspect’s lifeless body as tensions escalated following news of Iliasu’s death.
Community sources said three suspects were involved in the attack.
“One of the suspects was killed at the scene by angry residents, another was arrested and taken to the police station, while the third suspect managed to escape and his whereabouts remain unknown,” a source familiar with the incident said.
Iliasu was widely known across Baruten and neighbouring communities for his reputation as an Islamic cleric with the ability to identify individuals allegedly involved in witchcraft activities.
His work and influence made him a well-known figure throughout the region and often brought him into public attention.
Sources confirmed that the remains of the late cleric were being laid to rest at the Ilesha-Baruba Muslim Cemetery in accordance with Islamic traditions.
