According to a report by Premium Times on Monday, June 1, 2026, a violent chain of reprisal attacks in Ilesha-Baruba, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State has left at least two people dead and several properties destroyed.
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 Kwara State Police Command confirmed that the unrest broke out after a confrontation on May 30, 2026, involving an unidentified Fulani man and Islamic cleric, Alhaji Mohammed Ilyasu.
According to police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, both men sustained severe injuries during the altercation and were rushed to a hospital, where they later died while receiving treatment.
The death of the cleric triggered outrage in the community.
Police said angry youths stormed the hospital where the bodies were kept, seized the remains of the deceased suspect, and set it on fire, escalating tensions in the area.
In the chaos that followed, another passerby was attacked and killed by the mob, further deepening the violence.
Security authorities also reported that at least ten houses belonging to members of the Fulani community were destroyed, including the residence of the Fulani community leader, popularly known as the Ardo.
The situation prompted the deployment of a joint team of police officers and military personnel to restore order. Authorities said normalcy has since been restored, though security surveillance remains in place.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ojo Adekimi, condemned the mob action, describing it as unlawful and unacceptable, warning residents against taking justice into their own hands.
He stressed that the police have launched a full investigation and are tracking all individuals involved in the killings, arson, and destruction of property. He added that those responsible would be arrested and prosecuted.
The police further appealed for calm, urging community members to avoid actions that could inflame ethnic tensions or trigger further violence, while assuring residents of continued efforts to protect lives and property.
Earlier reports indicated that the cleric was attacked at his residence and sustained fatal injuries before he could receive adequate medical attention.
Eyewitness accounts also suggest that the incident sparked immediate retaliation in the community, including the lynching of one of the suspected attackers near a police station, while another suspect was arrested and a third reportedly fled.
