*Set ablaze emir’s palace in Kwara
Ilorin—Terrorists have abducted 23 persons in seperate attacks in Kwara and Kebbi states.
In Kwara State, 10 persons were abducted in a simultaneous and coordinated attacks in the early hours of yesterday, as they set ablaze the palace of Emir of Yashikira in Baruten Local Government Area of the state on fire, while also launching an onslaught on the nearby police divisional headquarters but were reportedly repelled by the officers on duty.
This is coming barely 48 hours after terrorists killed three persons and abducted 10 worshippers during a night vigil in a church in Ekiti Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
While in Kebbi State, terrorists abducted 13 residents of Tangaram village in Wasagu District of Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of the state following a midnight attack on the community.
Vanguard gathered from locals in Kwara State that the 10 persons abducted in the palace while trying to flee the fire inferno were four wives of the Emir, two children and four palace aides.
Spokesperson of the state command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the attack in a statement, yesterday.
The statement said: “The armed criminals, in a coordinated and desperate assault about 0200hrs, simultaneously attacked the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters and the Palace of the Emir of Yashikira.
“During the attack, part of the palace was set ablaze, while 10 people were abducted and taken to an unknown destination.
“However, the attack on the Police station was successfully repelled by police operatives on duty.”
13 residents kidnapped in Kebbi
Residents said the attackers stormed the village about 1a.m., on Sunday, firing sporadically into the air before breaking into homes and whisking victims away toward the Zamfara border.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the attack as terrifying.
“They came on motorcycles and started shooting into the air. People ran in different directions, but they forced their way into houses and took away several residents,” the source said.
The witness added that Tangaram and surrounding communities have suffered repeated attacks due to their proximity to forest corridors linking Kebbi, Zamfara, and Niger states.
Recent attacks in Danko/Wasagu have reportedly resulted in mass abductions, with some victims allegedly released after ransom payments running into millions of Naira.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Kebbi State Police Command, Bashir Usman, said the victims remain in captivity but clarified that preliminary investigations showed the abducted persons were adult males.
“The abducted persons are still in captivity following the attack on Tangaram village, Danko/Wasagu LGA.
“Preliminary findings, however, confirmed that all the victims are adult male residents of the village, contrary to reports being circulated.”
The police spokesperson said security operatives had intensified rescue operations across the border communities.
“Police tactical teams, in collaboration with vigilante groups and other security agencies, have sustained coordinated rescue efforts along the border axis with Zamfara State with a view to ensuring the safe rescue of the victims and arrest of the perpetrators,” he added.
The latest attack has renewed concerns over worsening insecurity in border communities across Kebbi State, where residents continue to face recurring raids, kidnappings, and cattle rustling by armed groups operating along the North-West forest belt.
