Terrorists burn down Emir’s palace in Kwara North, abduct wives, children

Suspected terrorists on Monday razed parts of the Emir’s palace in Yashikira, a border community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting several residents, including wives and children of the traditional ruler, in a brazen overnight attack that left the community in panic.

Residents told NupekoTV, a local newsroom, that the attackers stormed the town around 12:40 a.m., firing sporadically for hours as terrified families fled into nearby bushes and neighbouring settlements for safety.

The assailants were said to have targeted the palace area, where they reportedly set vehicles ablaze and vandalised sections of the Emir’s residence during the operation.

Witnesses described the attack as one of the most frightening incidents the community has experienced in recent times, with gunshots echoing across different parts of the town throughout the night.

Community sources said several persons were whisked away by the attackers, including some of the Emir’s wives and children, alongside other residents living around the palace vicinity.

The exact number of abducted victims, however, remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.

The incident has heightened anxiety in the Kwara North community, where residents are now calling for urgent intervention from security agencies amid growing fears of renewed attacks.

“We urgently appeal to the relevant authorities to come to our aid, rescue the abducted victims, and restore peace to Yashikira,” one resident told NupekoTV.

Some residents also appealed to the military, police, and other security operatives to intensify security operations in the area, saying the community has become increasingly vulnerable to attacks due to its remote location near the border corridor.

As of press time, security authorities had yet to issue an official statement confirming the attack, the number of abducted persons, or whether casualties were recorded during the incident.