Residents of Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State were thrown into panic after suspected bandits invaded the border town, abducting several residents, including some of the Emir’s wives, while setting parts of the palace ablaze.
According to community sources, the heavily armed attackers stormed the area late Sunday night, firing gunshots sporadically before launching coordinated attacks on the Emir’s palace and surrounding homes.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen overpowered local vigilantes and operated freely for hours as terrified residents fled into nearby bushes to escape the attack.
Sources disclosed that the assailants first targeted the palace, where sections of the building were reportedly set on fire before multiple victims were whisked away to an unknown destination.
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A resident who spoke on the incident said the invasion caused confusion across the community, with several families still searching for missing relatives after the attackers left the area.
“The gunmen came in large numbers with sophisticated weapons. People were running in different directions while many escaped into the bush for safety,” the source said.
Residents also expressed concern over the worsening insecurity in Baruten Local Government Area, alleging that border communities in the region have become vulnerable to repeated attacks due to porous routes used by armed groups.
They further accused security agencies of failing to provide adequate protection despite repeated warnings over growing bandit activities in nearby communities.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to release an official statement regarding the attack, while the exact number of abducted victims remained unclear.
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