Bandits invade Kwara community, burn Emir’s palace, abduct 10 persons

Barely 48 hours after three worshippers were killed and 15 others abducted at a prayer ground in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, gunmen have kidnapped another 10 persons from the palace of the Emir of Yashikira in Baruten LGA.

In a statement, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the attackers struck the emir’s palace and the Yashikira Police Division simultaneously at about 2am on Monday.

“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,” the statement read.

“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.”

The police command disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, had ordered a full-scale intelligence-led tactical operation involving the police, military, forest guards, vigilantes, and other security stakeholders to comb surrounding forests and suspected criminal hideouts to rescue the victims unharmed.

The commissioner warned that the police would not yield to threats or acts of terror by bandits and criminal groups operating within the state.

“The command remains battle-ready and fully determined to confront these enemies of peace with every lawful operational asset and strategy at its disposal,” he said.

“These criminals have declared war against peace-loving citizens, and we are fully prepared to hunt them down relentlessly.

“We will deploy everything within our operational capacity to smoke them out of hiding, dismantle their networks, rescue all abducted victims, and ensure they face the full wrath of the law.”

The command assured residents of Yashikira, Baruten LGA, and other parts of the state that security operations had been intensified across vulnerable communities.

According to the police, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and aggressive bush-combing operations are currently ongoing.

The latest attack comes amid growing security concerns across the South-West following recent incidents in parts of Oyo State.

On May 16, gunmen riding motorcycles invaded communities within the Ahoro-Esiele/Yawota axis of Oriire, Ogbomoso, abducting students and staff members of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele; L.A. Primary School, Esiele; and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School.

The attackers also killed an assistant headmaster, Joel Adesiyan, and a commercial motorcyclist, triggering widespread outrage.