Armed men attack Kwara’s Yashikira community, abduct 10 people and burn part of the Emir’s palace in a late-night coordinated assault
Suspected armed men have launched a coordinated attack on Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting 10 persons and setting part of the Emir’s palace on fire.
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The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, just days after a separate abduction of teachers and schoolchildren in Oyo State heightened national concerns over rising insecurity across parts of the country.
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed that the attackers targeted both the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters and the palace of the Emir of Yashikira during the overnight raid.
Police spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the assault took place at about 2:00 a.m., describing it as a coordinated operation by the armed group.
According to the command, the attackers first struck the palace, where they set a section of the building ablaze before whisking away 10 residents to an unknown location.
The police further stated that the gunmen also attempted to overrun the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters but were repelled by officers on duty at the station.
Security operatives reportedly engaged the attackers in a confrontation that prevented a full takeover of the facility.
Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Ojo Adekimi, ordered a full-scale tactical response aimed at rescuing the abducted victims.
The ongoing operation involves the police, military personnel, forest guards, vigilantes and other security stakeholders working jointly to track down the perpetrators.
Authorities said surveillance, intelligence gathering and bush-combing operations have been intensified across vulnerable communities in Baruten Local Government Area.
The latest attack has deepened fears over the safety of border communities and traditional institutions, coming amid a wave of kidnapping incidents across several states.
It also follows recent reports from Oyo State, where schoolteachers and pupils were abducted during a separate attack, prompting intensified security operations.
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Residents of Yashikira community remain in shock as security agencies continue efforts to rescue the abducted victims and restore normalcy.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
