The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed that suspected armed bandits launched a coordinated midnight attack on the Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area, North Central Nigeria. The assailants set fire to part of the Emir’s palace and abducted 10 individuals, including members of the family of the traditional ruler, Alhaji Umar Seriki.
The Command reported that the attackers struck at approximately 2:00 a.m. on Monday, conducting a simultaneous assault on both the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters and the Emir’s palace, characterizing the event as a “coordinated and desperate operation.”
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the abduction of 10 persons and noted that security operatives successfully repelled the assault on the police station.
“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, May 25, 2026, in Yashikira, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State,” the statement read.
It further detailed that during the raid, part of the palace was set ablaze. Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, ordered a full-scale tactical operation involving the military, police, forest guards, and local vigilantes to rescue the victims and track down the perpetrators.
“The Command remains battle-ready and fully determined to confront these enemies of peace with every lawful operational asset and strategy at its disposal,” the police affirmed. “We will deploy every resource within our operational capacity to smoke them out, dismantle their networks, rescue all abducted victims, and ensure they face the full wrath of the law.”
Resident Accounts of the Attack
Earlier reports from residents indicated that the attackers stormed the community between midnight and 2:00 a.m., firing sporadically before advancing on the palace.
One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that three wives and four children of the traditional ruler were among those abducted. “I just spoke with my father; he reported that three of the Emir’s wives and four children were taken, alongside other community members,” the source said.
Another witness, Tukur Ahmed, described the attackers’ movements: “They arrived on motorcycles and went straight to the palace. They were firing into the air and broke into the inner quarters where the Emir’s wives and children were residing. They took the three wives, four children, and other residents before setting vehicles on fire and fleeing the town.”
Sources confirmed that several vehicles belonging to the palace were destroyed by fire, resulting in extensive property damage. It was also gathered that the Emir was not in the palace at the time of the attack.
Ongoing Security Response
Security agencies have since commenced intensive bush-combing and surveillance operations across the region to rescue the victims and apprehend the attackers.
Kwara North has witnessed an escalation in banditry in recent months, with frequent reports of attacks on rural communities, highways, and traditional institutions across the Baruten, Kaiama, Edu, and Patigi local government areas.
Source: Punch
