*Police: Islamic cleric and unidentified man hacked each other with machetes, died in hospital; mob razed houses in Ilesha Baruba
A dispute between an Islamic scholar and a Fulani man ended in blood and fire on Saturday as mob violence swept through Ilesha Baruba, Baruten LGA of Kwara State.
Two people died and 10 houses were razed, Kwara Police Command confirmed Sunday.
Police spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi said the crisis started after an altercation between Alhaji Mohammed Ilyasu, an Islamic scholar, and an unidentified Fulani man.
Both men attacked each other with machetes and sustained serious injuries. They were rushed to hospital but were later confirmed dead.
What happened next turned deadly: Angry youths launched mob attacks, torching homes in reprisal.
—Police label it “extrajudicial killings”—
In a statement on Sunday, the Command described the incident as “mob violence, arson and extrajudicial killings.”
Investigations have commenced to identify and arrest those behind the reprisal attacks and destruction.
—Pattern of reprisal violence—
The clash highlights rising tensions in Baruten, a border LGA with mixed Fulani and local farming communities. Minor disputes often escalate into ethnic/religious reprisals within hours.
Security operatives have been deployed in Ilesha Baruba to restore order and prevent further attacks.
