Armed bandits attacked Yashikira town in Baruten local government area of Kwara State early yesterday around 12 to 1am, abducting four wives and several children of the Emir of Yashikira, Umar Seriki, and setting his vehicles ablaze.
According to multiple local sources, the gunmen stormed the community in large numbers at dawn, shooting sporadically into the air to create panic and prevent resistance. The attackers went straight to the Emir’s palace, overpowered local security, and carried out the abductions before fleeing into nearby forests.
“As of this time of writing, the number of casualties is yet unknown,” a community source told VoL. Residents said the shooting caused chaos, with many people fleeing into bushes and nearby compounds for safety. Some sustained injuries while escaping, but official figures have not been confirmed.
In addition to the kidnappings, the bandits burnt down several vehicles belonging to the Emir, including his official cars parked within the palace premises. The fire reportedly destroyed property worth millions of naira.
Eyewitnesses said the operation lasted over 30 minutes without immediate intervention from security forces. The Emir, Alhaji Umar Seriki, was said not to be at the palace during the attack.
According to a resident, “They came on motorcycles and went straight to the palace. They were shooting into the air and broke into the inner quarters where the Emir’s wives and children were. They took four of the wives and some of the children, then set the cars on fire before leaving”.
The Kwara State Police Command and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have not released an official statement as of press time. Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer for comment were unsuccessful.
The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents in Kwara-North senatorial district, which shares borders with Niger and Kogi states. Communities in Baruten, Kaiama, and Patigi LGAs have reported repeated cases of kidnapping, cattle rustling, and attacks on villages in the last two years.
The Kwara State government has previously pledged to strengthen local vigilante networks and improve surveillance along border communities. However, residents say response times remain slow and security presence inadequate in many rural areas.
As of now, no group has claimed responsibility, and there has been no contact with the victims’ families.
