The Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed an attack by suspected bandits on the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters and the palace of the Emir of Yashikira in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.
The attack, according to the police, occurred at about 2:00 am on May 25, 2026, when the armed men launched a coordinated assault on the community.
In a statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the command said the attackers set part of the Emir’s palace ablaze and abducted 10 persons during the operation.
The police, however, said operatives on duty at the Yashikira Divisional Headquarters successfully repelled the attack on the station.
The statement noted that the swift response of the officers prevented the bandits from overrunning the police facility.
Although the attackers caused damage at the Emir’s palace, the command said security operatives were able to resist the assault on the police division.
The gunmen were said to have stormed the area under the cover of darkness before setting part of the traditional ruler’s palace on fire.
During the attack, 10 people were reportedly abducted and taken away by the assailants.
The police did not immediately disclose the identities of the abducted victims but said efforts were already underway to rescue them safely.
The incident has heightened tension in Yashikira and surrounding communities, with residents calling for stronger security deployment in the area.
Following the attack, the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Ojo Adekimi, ordered a full-scale security operation to rescue the abducted victims and track down the perpetrators.
The operation, according to the command, involves security agencies, forest guards and local vigilantes.
The police said the combined security team had been deployed to comb the surrounding forests and suspected escape routes used by the bandits.
Reacting to the incident, Adekimi vowed that the command would not allow criminal groups to threaten the peace of the state.
He described the attackers as enemies of peaceful communities and assured residents that the police would pursue them until they were arrested.
The CP said, “These criminals have declared war against peace-loving citizens, and we are fully prepared to hunt them down relentlessly.”
The command urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, adding that useful information from members of the public would assist security agencies in rescuing the abducted victims and apprehending those behind the attack.
NaijaNews / Tunmise Adesanmi
