Chief Lukman Balogun, a prominent vigilantes commander popularly known as “Jagun,” was killed during a gun battle with suspected Fulani herdsmen in Igbaja community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The confrontation occurred on Monday evening during an operation to rescue three individuals who had been kidnapped by the herdsmen.
It was gathered that Jagun was tracking the kidnappers, who had previously abducted a prominent Igbaja resident, when he was killed on the Ogele-Yaaru road.
The three kidnap victims, whose identities remain undisclosed, were still held by their captors at the time of the incident.
Local sources confirmed that Jagun, who was revered for his leadership in community security, was shot during a fierce exchange of gunfire.
He said Jagun’s death had left a significant void in the local vigilante group, and many mourn the loss of a man who risked his life for the safety of others.
The source added that tensions had been high in the area due to recent incidents involving suspected herdsmen, with communities calling for enhanced security measures.
Meanwhile, hundreds of residents from the community stormed the palace of the Elese of Igbaja to express their anger and grief over the killing of Jagun and the abduction of several residents.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, some of the protesters voiced that they no longer wanted Bororo people in their community.
“We are at the palace of the Elese — women, men, young, and elderly people — and we are saying we don’t want them in our community anymore.
“They have killed Jagun, the grand local commander of Ifelodun. They have killed him, and our lives are no longer safe since the person who was fighting the criminals is now dead.
One of the protesters said that three Fulani women were abducted from Igbaja on Sunday, while Jagun was killed on Monday evening during a gun battle between his vigilante group and the kidnappers.
“They have destroyed our farms and chased us off our land. Now, they have invaded our community, killed Jagun, and told us to be patient. We won’t be patient on this. This is Yoruba land, and we don’t want Bororo people here anymore.
“We are no longer safe in Igbaja. The person protecting us has been killed. When a similar incident happened in Babala, we saw how the state government deployed soldiers there to drive them out, but no security operatives have been sent here.”
He added that Jagun’s wife gave birth last week, and the naming ceremony was held on Tuesday.
The paramount ruler of Igbaja, Oba Ahmed Babalola Arepo III, condemned the killing and urged the protesters to be patient, advising them not to retaliate or fight anyone.
The monarch, however, said efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing assailants.
Two other individuals were reportedly kidnapped from Kajola village early Tuesday, further intensifying concerns about insecurity in the area.
The Coordinator of the Kwara South Elders Security Forum, Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, confirmed the abductions, noting that five people had been taken, and that Balogun died during an attempt to rescue the kidnapped women.
He added that a joint task force of police, military, and vigilante groups was actively searching the forests around Igbaja and Oke-Ode for the victims.
When SaharaReporters contacted the spokesman for the state police command, DSP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, she did not answer the call nor respond to the message sent to her.