Fresh fear has gripped residents of Kwara State after heavily armed gunmen invaded the palace of the Emir of Yashikira in Baruten Local Government Area, abducting at least 10 people during a violent overnight attack.
The attackers reportedly struck in the early hours of Monday, causing panic across the community as gunshots echoed through the area.
According to the Kwara State Police Command, the gunmen launched a coordinated assault around 2am, targeting both the Yashikira Emir’s palace and the nearby police divisional headquarters at the same time.
During the invasion, parts of the Emir’s palace were reportedly set on fire while several residents were forcefully taken away by the attackers to an unknown destination.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed that although the criminals succeeded in abducting victims from the palace area, police officers on duty successfully repelled the attack on the police station.
“The armed criminals carried out simultaneous attacks on the police division and the Emir’s palace. Part of the palace was burnt, while 10 persons were abducted,” the statement revealed.
Following the attack, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, immediately ordered a large-scale security operation involving the police, military personnel, vigilantes, forest guards and other security agencies.
Security operatives have now launched aggressive bush-combing and intelligence-driven operations across surrounding forests and suspected hideouts in an effort to rescue the kidnapped victims and track down the attackers.
Reacting to the incident, the police commissioner vowed that security agencies would not surrender any part of Kwara State to criminal groups terrorising communities.
“These criminals have declared war against innocent residents, and we are fully prepared to go after them relentlessly,” Adekimi said.
The latest attack has further heightened fears among residents, especially coming barely days after another deadly assault in Kwara where worshippers were attacked during a church vigil, leaving several people killed and others kidnapped.
Residents across affected communities are now calling for stronger security presence and urgent government intervention as insecurity continues to spread across parts of the state.
Source: Kwara State Police Command
