Police confirm abduction of 10 villagers from Kwara Emir’s palace

The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed attack on Yashikra village, Baruten local government area of Kwara state by suspected bandits in the early hours of Monday.

In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the police command, the command said that the armed criminals, who operated in a coordinated and desperate assault at about 2:00 am, simultaneously attacked the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters and the Palace of the Emir of Yashikira.

The statement also said that part of the palace was set ablaze during the attack, adding that 10 people were abducted and taken to an unknown destination.

ALSO READ: Eid travel safety: Avoiding highway kidnappings in Late May

The police command, however, said the attack on the Police station was successfully repelled by police operatives on duty.

“Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, CP Ojo Adekimi, psc, mnips, immediately ordered a full-scale, intelligence-driven tactical operation involving the Police, Military, Forest Guards, Vigilantes, and other security stakeholders to comb the surrounding forests and criminal hideouts with the sole objective of rescuing the victims unhurt and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

“The Commissioner of Police wishes to categorically state that the Command will not bow to threats, intimidation, or acts of terror orchestrated by bandits and criminal elements operating within any part of the state. The Command remains battle-ready and fully determined to confront these enemies of peace with every lawful operational asset and strategy at its disposal.

“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,” the CP stated.

“The Command further assures residents of Yashikira, Baruten LGA, and the entire State that security operations have been intensified across vulnerable areas. In addition, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and aggressive bush-combing operations are ongoing”.