The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the kidnapping of 10 people after gunmen believed to be Fulani bandits overran Yashikira Emir’s palace in Baruten LGA of the state.
In a statement released on Monday by the spokesperson of the state’s command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the gunmen also attacked the Yashikira police station simultaneously around 2am on Monday.
“The armed criminals, in a coordinated and desperate assault at about 0200hrs, simultaneously attacked the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters and the Palace of the Emir of Yashikira.”
The statement said “During the attack, part of the palace was set ablaze, while ten people were abducted and taken to an unknown destination. However, the attack on the police station was successfully repelled by police operatives on duty.”
The statement added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, has ordered an intelligence-led tactical operation involving the police, military, forest guards, vigilantes and other security agencies to comb surrounding forests and suspected criminal hideouts in a bid to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
“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,” Adekimi said.
The latest incident reflects the rising insecurity accross the country resulting to series’ of abductions and loss of lives of defenceless citizens.
