Suspected bandits have attacked Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, setting the Emir’s palace on fire and abducting several residents, including women, children, and some of the Emir’s wives.
The armed attackers reportedly stormed the border community on Sunday night, shooting sporadically before invading the palace and nearby homes. Residents said the assailants operated for hours, overpowering local vigilantes and forcing many people to flee into surrounding bushes for safety.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen first targeted the Emir’s palace, where they set parts of the building ablaze before whisking away multiple victims. The attackers were also said to have moved through the community, abducting more residents amid widespread panic.
Sources described the operation as coordinated and heavily armed, noting that the attackers arrived in large numbers and left the area unchallenged. Residents later returned to search for missing relatives after the bandits had withdrawn.
As of press time, the exact number of abducted victims remained unconfirmed, and authorities had yet to issue an official statement. Residents, however, lamented rising insecurity in the border area, blaming repeated attacks on porous routes and lack of adequate security presence.