Suspected bandits on Monday launched a coordinated midnight attack on the Yashikira community in the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, burning a section of the emir’s palace and abducting three wives and four children of the traditional ruler, Alhaji Umar Seriki.
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The attack, which occurred between about 12:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m., saw heavily armed men storm the border town in large numbers, firing sporadically into the air before advancing directly toward the palace and nearby police formation.
Residents said the attackers overpowered local security operatives stationed around the palace and forced their way into the inner sections of the royal residence, where members of the emir’s household were seized.
A resident who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity due to security concerns described the chaos that followed the invasion.
He said, “I just finished communicating with my father right now. In his report, he said three of the wives of the emir and four children were abducted, including some residents of the community.
“People were running in different directions because of the sporadic gunshots. Some sustained injuries while escaping, but we cannot confirm the exact number for now,” the resident said.
Another resident, Tukur Ahmed, said the attackers arrived on motorcycles and moved straight to the palace complex.
“They came on motorcycles and went straight to the palace. They were shooting into the air and broke into the inner quarters where the emir’s wives and children were.
“They took three of the wives and four children, alongside some other residents, before setting the cars on fire and leaving the town,” he added.
Sources confirmed that several vehicles belonging to the palace were set ablaze during the raid, causing significant property damage estimated in millions of naira.
The emir was not in the palace at the time of the attack.
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, stating that 10 people were abducted during the coordinated assault.
According to the statement, the attackers struck at about 2:00 a.m., simultaneously targeting the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters and the emir’s palace in what the command described as a coordinated and desperate operation.
The police said: “The Kwara State Police Command condemns in the strongest possible terms the cowardly and audacious attack carried out by suspected bandits in the early hours of today, 25/5/26, in Yashikira, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
“The armed criminals, in a coordinated and desperate assault at about 0200hrs, simultaneously attacked the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters and the Palace of the Emir of Yashikira.
“During the attack, part of the palace was set ablaze, while 10 people were abducted and taken to an unknown destination. However, the attack on the police station was successfully repelled by police operatives on duty.”
Following the attack, the Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, ordered a full-scale tactical operation involving the military, police, forest guards, vigilantes, and other security stakeholders to rescue the victims and track down the attackers.
The command said rescue operations had already commenced, with security forces combing nearby forests and suspected hideouts.
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