Gunmen believed to be members of ?Mahmuda? group on Sunday attacked Karongi town in the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, killed one person and burnt many houses in the community.

The bandits, who invaded the town early in the morning, killed a resident before setting some houses ablaze.

It was gathered that the bandits took advantage of the absence of the local vigilantes in the community who had earlier traveled to attend a training workshop while others had traveled out to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir outside the community.

It was further gathered that the gunmen who were unchallenged between 6am and 11am were, however, dislodged from the community by the combined team of soldiers and vigilantes mobilised from the adjoining settlements in the area.

Though the police said they were not aware of Sunday?s attack in Karongi, the Nigerian Army confirmed the incident.

The Emir of Yashikira Emirate in the same local government, Umoru Sariki, also confirmed the incident.

The emir said that one person was killed during the attack while many houses were burnt by the bandits.

Umoru said, ?The bandits from Mahmuda group struck at about 6am on Sunday. They attacked Karongi town in my Emirate. They killed one person and burned many houses in the community.

?They took advantage of the absence of vigilante men who have travelled for Sallah while some had also gone for training. They invaded the town for hours from 6am to 11am. We had to go to the surrounding communities in the Emirate to mobilise local vigilantes who chased them away.

The emir appealed to the Federal Government and the military to establish a security base in Karongi or neighbouring communities to safeguard the lives of people living in the area.

When contacted on Sunday, the police spokesperson in Kwara State, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said that she was not aware of the attack.

The Public Relations Officer of the 22 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Sobi, Ilorin, Lt Stephen Nwankwo however confirmed the attack on Monday.

He said, ?Yes, the incident happened. I?m aware one of the vigilante men was killed while some makeshift houses were set ablaze by the gunmen. Soldiers were alerted about the incident and they went to the village. The person killed was one of the vigilante men who escorted soldiers to the village.? (Channels TV)

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