Suspected terrorists from the Mahmuda group on Sunday launched a deadly attack on Karongi town in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing one person and setting several houses ablaze.

The assailants, who struck in the early hours of the morning, reportedly exploited the absence of local vigilante operatives, many of whom were away for a training workshop in Ilorin or had travelled for the Eid-el-Kabir festivities.

The attack, which lasted from around 6:00 am to 11:00 am, was eventually repelled by a combined force of soldiers and vigilante members from neighbouring communities.

While the Kwara State Police Command did not confirm the incident as of press time, the Nigerian Army acknowledged the attack.

Confirming the incident in a telephone interview with journalists, the Emir of Yashikira, Alhaji Umoru Sariki, said the terrorists struck Karongi town in his emirate, leaving one dead and many homes destroyed.

“Yes, the bandits from the Mahmuda group struck around 6:00 am on Sunday. They attacked Karongi town, killed one person, and set several houses on fire,” the Emir said.

He noted that the terrorists capitalized on the absence of security operatives in the town and operated unchallenged for hours.

“They took advantage of the absence of vigilantes, many of whom had travelled for Sallah or gone for training. They invaded the town from 6:00 am to 11:00 am We had to mobilise vigilante groups from surrounding communities to chase them away,” he added.

The Emir lamented the distance of military personnel from the area, stating that soldiers stationed in Chikanda were too far from Karongi to respond quickly.

He appealed to the Federal Government and the military authorities to establish a military base in Karongi or its environs to enhance security and protect residents.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Kwara, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said she was not yet aware of the incident but promised to investigate and respond accordingly.

However, the Public Relations Officer of the 22 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Lt. Stephen Nwankwo, confirmed the incident on Monday.

“Yes, I can confirm the attack. One vigilante operative was killed, and several makeshift houses were burnt by the gunmen,” he said.

Nwankwo explained that the vigilante member killed had accompanied soldiers to the village. The terrorists fled upon sighting the military.

“The soldiers responded swiftly when alerted. The deceased was part of the local security escort. The attackers escaped on sighting the troops,” he added.