How Terrorists Stormed Kwara Community, Torched Emir’s Palace, Abducted His Wife, Children

Blessing Bello, Reporting

ILORIN, Nigeria – Just days before the Eid el-Kabir celebrations, around 15 suspected terrorists have invaded the ancient town of Yashikira in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, setting the emir’s palace on fire and kidnapping his wife, children and several other residents.

The attack unfolded in the early hours of Sunday while townsfolk were fast asleep, according to local sources.

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Witnesses reported that the assailants arrived firing sporadically before storming the palace and nearby homes. Armed with sophisticated weapons, they easily overpowered local vigilante groups and operated for hours virtually unchallenged, as terrified residents fled into surrounding bushes.

“The bandits invaded Yashikira in the night,” a local source told journalists in Ilorin on Monday. “They set the palace on fire and kidnapped women and children, including the emir’s wives.”

Another resident described scenes of chaos: “People were running in different directions. Many escaped into the bush while the bandits carried away several persons.”

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The attack has thrown the entire community into disarray, with families desperately searching for missing relatives.

Residents of Baruten LGA have repeatedly raised the alarm over worsening insecurity, blaming porous border routes in the region for repeated raids by armed groups.

They also criticised security agencies for failing to provide adequate protection despite prior warnings about escalating bandit activity in surrounding villages.

A senior police officer at the Baruten Divisional Police Headquarters in Kosubosu, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident.

“We have sent a signal to the state police headquarters in Ilorin and have commenced a manhunt for the suspected bandits,” he said.

The officer urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that all efforts were under way to secure the safe rescue of the victims.