Bandits attack emir’s palace

Wives, children, others kidnapped   From Mumini AbdulKareem (Ilorin), Ahmed Ali (Kafanchan), Ismail Adebayo (Birnin Kebbi) & Magaji Isa Hunkuyi (Jalingo)   Suspected armed bandits on Monday launched a coordinated midnight assault on Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, attacking both the police divisional headquarters and the palace of the Emir […]

• Wives, children, others kidnapped

 

From Mumini AbdulKareem (Ilorin), Ahmed Ali (Kafanchan), Ismail Adebayo (Birnin Kebbi) & Magaji Isa Hunkuyi (Jalingo)

 

Suspected armed bandits on Monday launched a coordinated midnight assault on Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, attacking both the police divisional headquarters and the palace of the Emir of Yashikira, Alhaji Umaru Seriki Usman.

The attackers reportedly abducted at least 10 persons, including two wives of the traditional ruler and some of his children, during the operation which threw the border community into panic.

Residents said the heavily armed assailants stormed the town around 2:00am and first attacked the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters where they allegedly carted away ammunition before proceeding to the emir’s palace amid sporadic gunfire.

Witnesses said terrified residents fled into nearby bushes as gunshots echoed across the community for several minutes.

Part of the palace was set ablaze during the invasion while some animals within the premises, including turkeys, were also killed. The emir, however, escaped unharmed.

The lawmaker representing the constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Baba Saliu, who provided further details on the attack, said the gunmen operated in a coordinated manner and opened fire immediately they arrived at the palace.

“They first invaded the police station and carted away some ammunition before heading to the palace.

“They immediately opened fire when they got to the palace on the vehicles and other things. The emir escaped but they abducted his two wives, children and others around.

“Though we are still gathering figures, about 10 should be the number of the abductees. They set the palace ablaze and killed about two turkeys. But nobody was killed”, he said.

According to him, the monarch has temporarily been advised to leave the community for safety reasons pending the restoration of normalcy.

Chairman of Baruten Local Government Area, Issa Jubril, also confirmed the incident. “The monarch was able to escape during the incident,” he said.

Asked whether women and children from the palace were among those abducted, he responded: “Yes, but I will not be able to give you the exact figures and identities of the victims now.

“But our emir is safe and the town is calm now. We immediately put in a lot of efforts to alert the relevant security agencies and they are on top of the situation.”

The Kwara State Police Command equally confirmed the attack. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the incident was carried out by suspected bandits who attacked in the early hours of Monday.

She disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, had ordered a full-scale intelligence-driven operation involving tactical police units, the military, forest guards and vigilante groups to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend the attackers.

According to her, security deployment has also been reinforced across vulnerable communities in the state, while surveillance and bush-combing operations are ongoing.

The latest assault has again drawn attention to growing insecurity in Kwara North, particularly in Baruten and Kaiama axis, where communities bordering the Benin Republic and neighbouring states have increasingly come under attacks from armed groups exploiting vast forests and difficult terrains.

In recent years, several communities in Kwara North have witnessed deadly attacks, kidnappings and violent incursions linked to armed bandits and terror gangs operating around the Kainji Lake National Park and border corridors.

One of the deadliest incidents occurred in Woro, a community in Kaiama Local Government Area, where scores of residents were reportedly killed during repeated attacks by armed groups.

Local sources and community leaders had claimed that over 150 people were killed in a series of coordinated invasions that forced many villagers to flee their homes.

Communities in Kaiama, Baruten and parts of Moro Local Government Area have repeatedly raised concerns over worsening security, accusing criminal gangs of using forest routes connecting Kwara, Niger State and the Benin Republic as operational hideouts.

There have also been recurring reports of kidnappings of farmers, travellers and traditional rulers across the axis, with residents lamenting inadequate security presence in remote settlements.

The latest Yashikira palace attack came barely 48 hours after another deadly assault in Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.

The Kwara State Police Command confirmed at the weekend that armed hoodlums attacked worshipers during a night vigil at Ori-Oke Ajaiye on the outskirts of Ikiran Village in Ekiti LGA, killing three persons and abducting 15 others.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the attack occurred on Friday night while members of a church congregation were holding prayers at the remote prayer ground.

The police said the Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, immediately ordered a comprehensive tactical and intelligence-driven rescue operation involving the Police Drone Team, PMF personnel, intelligence units and other operational assets.

The back-to-back attacks in Ekiti and Baruten local government areas have intensified fears over the worsening security situation in Kwara North and adjoining communities, especially in remote settlements bordering forest corridors frequently exploited by armed groups.

The Kwara State government has in recent months intensified security collaborations with federal security agencies and local vigilante groups in a bid to contain rising attacks in vulnerable parts of the state, particularly in Kwara North.

The government had earlier reinforced support for joint security operations, forest surveillance and community-based intelligence gathering across border communities facing threats from armed bandits and kidnappers.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has repeatedly assured residents of the administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

Authorities have continued to coordinate with the military, police, vigilantes and forest guards to strengthen security presence in troubled areas.

Despite these efforts, residents in several remote communities have continued to express concerns over recurring attacks and the difficult terrain being exploited by criminal groups.

Security experts and stakeholders have warned that the growing activities of armed groups in Kwara North could further escalate if border surveillance and forest security operations are not significantly strengthened.

 

14 abducted in Kebbi border community

In a related development,  at least 14 persons were abducted by bandits in Tangaram community in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

Sources said the bandits invaded the community at about 10pm on Saturday and abducted several residents before retreating into the forest.

A resident, El Yakubu Dauda, told our correspondent that many people were already asleep when the attackers stormed the community.

“What woke many of us was the sound of gunshots. They were shooting from every direction, making it difficult for people to come out and escape,” he said.

He added that the bandits broke into several homes and forcefully took away residents before returning to their hideout.

“I cannot say the exact number of people they took because it was difficult for us to come out. But those who saw them leaving after the invasion said they went away with about 14 persons,” he added.

Another resident, Yalmo Salisu, said the attackers were more than 50 in number and arrived on motorcycles.

“Before I escaped with my brother, I saw them forcing people out of their houses. They took away many of our people, but I cannot tell the exact number of persons abducted,” he said.

The spokesperson of the Kebbi State Police Command, SP Bashir Usman, said security operatives had been deployed to the affected area to rescue the abducted victims.

He added that security agencies had intensified coordinated rescue operations along border communities between Kebbi, Zamfara and Niger states to prevent the bandits from escaping with the victims.

Danko/Wasagu area has witnessed a series of attacks by bandits crossing into the state from Zamfara and Niger states. Its proximity to the two states has continued to worsen insecurity, particularly in Bena, Wasagu and Danko communities, Daily Trust gathered.

Recent attacks in Danko/Wasagu reportedly resulted in mass abductions, with some victims allegedly released after ransom payments running into millions of naira.

 

3 killed, 9 abducted in Kaduna

Gunmen killed three people and abducted nine others in an attack on Kurmin Gwaza community in Kwaturu ward of Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The attack, which reportedly occurred around 11 pm on Saturday, threw the community into panic as the attackers invaded the area and opened fire on residents.

Locals said nine persons were initially abducted during the attack, although three later escaped from their captors.

Those reportedly abducted, according to a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, include Halima Chinya, Theresa Matthew, Abednego Anne, Baba Precious, Sati Nitrous and Zhenom Hussain, among others.

The three persons said to have escaped are Ladidi Satti, Francis and Kyom Satti. The source added that three persons lost their lives during the incident.

The deceased were identified as David Danfulani, Emmanuel Manga and Isa, who was said to be from Sabon Gari Gantan.

Two other residents, Bulus Ayuba and Luka Shehu of Ungwan Shehu, sustained injuries during the attack and are currently receiving treatment.

The latest attack has heightened tension among residents of the area, with community members calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to protect lives and property.

Efforts to reach security authorities for official confirmation were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

 

Gunmen sack 10 communities in Taraba

Furthermore, bandits numbering over 100 have sacked 10 farming communities in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Daily Trust gathered that the affected communities are located in Didango and Andami wards, which share borders with Plateau and Bauchi states.

Sources said the heavily armed bandits crossed into Taraba communities two weeks ago from Bauchi and Plateau states after a joint military and hunters’ operation reportedly flushed them out from their previous hideouts.

Many of the bandits were reportedly killed during the operation, while several others escaped into border communities in Taraba State.

It was further learnt that the bandits, who moved on motorcycles, established new bases in mountain and forest areas within Taraba, forcing residents of the once peaceful communities to flee.

Residents alleged that the bandits have abducted many people, rustled cattle and dispossessed villagers of valuables, including cash.

A former member of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Tanko Bobbo Andami, who represented the affected communities, told Daily Trust that unless the bandits were flushed out, farmers would not be able to access their farms during the current farming season.

He said rainfall had already started in the area, but fear of attacks had prevented farmers from going to their farms.

The affected communities, according to him, include Jukun, Faskari, Fantaje, Taka Jukun and Gwammadoro, while others are Ligiri, Damage, Farin Ruwa, Gauro and Gina Rumbo.

Andami called on the Taraba State Government to urgently launch a joint security operation involving the military, hunters and vigilantes to flush out the bandits, similar to what was done in neighbouring Bauchi and Plateau states.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Taraba State Police Command, ASP Victor Mshelizah, said he was trying to get in touch with Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in charge of the affected axis.

“As soon as we speak, I will let you know,” he said in a WhatsApp message. However, he had yet to respond further as of the time of filing this report.

 

NAF kills several terrorists, disrupts planned attack in Niger

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it killed several terrorists and disrupted a planned attack in Niger State during a series of intelligence-led operations.

The NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Ejodame said the strikes were carried out by the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma Sector 1 between May 20 and May 23, across Rafi and Mariga local government areas.

“On May 20, following credible intelligence on the movement and convergence of terrorists around Tungan Bako and Kasuwan Daji in Rafi LGA, the Air Component, in conjunction with the Nigerian Army Space Command Regiment, executed precision air interdiction strikes.

“The operation neutralised several terrorists and disrupted their operational build-up,” the statement read.

It said that on May 21, the Air Component identified and engaged terrorists moving on motorcycles and on foot with rustled cattle from Tungunguna toward Uregi.

“The strikes neutralised the fighters and destroyed their movement and withdrawal capability.

“Later that day, the Air Component provided close air support to ground troops engaged with terrorists at Tungan Makeri.

“The intervention successfully repelled the attackers and restored operational advantage to friendly forces.”