Gunmen abduct 10 from Emir’s palace, raze police station in Kwara

By Christopher Oji

Gunmen have abducted 10 persons from the palace of the Emir of Yashikira in Baruten Local Government, Kwara State.

In a statement, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the gunmen also attacked the Yashikira Police Station simultaneously in the early hours of yesterday.

“The armed criminals, in a coordinated and desperate assault at about 2 p.m., 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 persons 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 incident, the statement added that the Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, had ordered an intelligence-led tactical operation involving the police, military, forest guards, vigilantes and other security agencies to comb surrounding forests and suspected criminal hideouts in a bid to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

The police chief assured residents that the command would not succumb to threats or intimidation by criminal elements operating in any part of the state.

“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,” Adekimi said.

The command also assured residents of Yashikira and other parts of Kaiama Local Government Area that security operations had been intensified across vulnerable communities, with surveillance, intelligence gathering and bush-combing operations ongoing.

The latest incident comes after terrorists attacked a church during a Saturday night vigil, killing three persons and abducting 15 worshippers at Ori-Oke Ajaiye on the outskirts of Ikiran village in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.