Kwara Terror Attack: 7 Killed In Baruten As Gunmen Open Fire On People At Motor Park *  Police Arrests Informant Linked to Bandit Network in Kwara 

By Omowumi Omotosho

A wave of deadly violence swept through Kwara State on Sunday, as suspected gunmen launched a brazen attack in Ilesha Baruba, leaving six people dead and two injured, while a separate attack in Kemanji claimed the life of a local vigilante.

According to a statement by the Kwara state police spokesperson Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, the most fatal incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. at the Ilesha Baruba Motor Park in Baruten Local Government Area, where about ten armed men opened fire on civilians gathered near a relaxation spot.

“Six individuals—identified as Alhaji Ja’awire, AbdulJabar, Mohammed Nasamu, and three others—were fatally shot. Two additional persons sustained serious gunshot injuries and are currently receiving treatment,” the police disclosed

The police further disclosed that the remains of the deceased at the Ilesha Baruba Morgue, has been deposited at a morgue for autopsies as part of investigation.

Also, in Kemanji, Kaiama Local Government Area, a local vigilante group on a routine patrol at about 11:30 a.m on Sunday, engaged in a gunfire duel with armed suspects believed to be bandits within the Kainji National Park area which led to the death of a vigilante group member.

“During the exchange of gunfire, three of the bandits were neutralized. Unfortunately, a member of the vigilante team, identified as Yusuf Samba, was shot and later died from his injuries,” the police confirmed.

The police confirmed the arrest of an informant allegedly tied to the bandit group.

“The individual confessed to collaborating with the armed network and has proven to be a valuable asset in advancing our investigation,” the statement read.

The Kwara State Police Command emphasized that they are not relenting in their efforts to restore peace and stability to the affected regions. “We have activated a full security architecture in both Baruten and Kaiama, including the deployment of tactical teams, intensified surveillance, and intelligence-led operations,” the statement continued.

The Police therefore urged citizens to remain vigilant and cooperative, warning that anyone aiding or abetting criminal activity will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“Let it be made categorically clear that anyone aiding or abetting crime in any part of the state will face the full weight of the law,” the command concluded.

Recall that Daily Trust Newspaper in its publication on April 19, 2025 reported that a new terror group identified as Mahmuda has surfaced in Kaiama and Baruten local government areas of Kwara State, terrorising residents around the Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP) which include some villages in Yashikira district of Baruten and Kemaanji, Wajibe and Nuku, among others in Kaiama.

It was also reported that the activity of the group extended to Babana and Wawa district in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

However, in a statement released on Saturday afternoon by the Spokesperson of the Kwara State police command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, titled: “Re: False Report on Alleged Terror Group “Mahmuda” Operating in Kwara State”, the police described the claim as false and misleading.

“The Kwara State Police Command categorically refutes the recent publication alleging the emergence of a terror group named Mahmuda within Kaiama and Baruten Local Government Areas of Kwara State.

“Our comprehensive and continuous threat assessments, intelligence surveillance, and tactical reconnaissance operations in these areas have yielded no evidence of insurgent activity, coordinated terrorist formations, or mass casualty incidents as described. The claim of 15 vigilantes being killed is entirely false and devoid of any factual basis, ” the statement read.

Assuring Kwarans of their safety, the police further declared that “we wish to assure the public that all security formations within Kwara State remain proactive and are strategically deployed under a multi-agency operational framework involving the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with other sister security agencies.

“No breach of internal security has been reported or observed in the aforementioned communities. Furthermore, our community engagement structures, including Vigilante Commanders and District Heads, have not relayed any such incidents, which confirms this publication to be misleading and inciting.

“While we recognize the volatile nature of cross-border movements around the Kainji Lake National Park, the Kwara State Police Command has maintained effective situational control across all border communities.

“We urge members of the public and media outlets to refrain from spreading unverified information capable of generating unnecessary panic. The Kwara Police Command under the leadership of CP Adekimi Ojo psc mnips, remains committed to safeguarding lives and property and encourages citizens to report any suspicious activity through official channels for prompt response”