Tension has gripped the border communities of Kwara State following a coordinated, late-night assault by suspected bandits in Kaiama Local Government Area. In the early hours of Monday, May 25, 2026, armed men simultaneously targeted the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters and the palace of the Emir of Yashikira.

The brazen attack resulted in the abduction of 10 people and left a section of the traditional ruler's palace engulfed in flames.

A Coordinated Midnight Raid

According to an official statement released by the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the bandits launched their offensive at approximately 2:00 AM, using the cover of darkness to catch the community off guard.

The attackers split their forces to hit two high-profile targets at once:

  • The Emir's Palace: The gunmen breached the palace grounds, setting a portion of the building on fire. Amid the chaos, they rounded up and abducted 10 individuals before fleeing into the night.

  • Yashikira Police Station: Simultaneously, a segment of the armed group attempted to overrun the local divisional headquarters. However, they were met with fierce resistance from police operatives on duty, who successfully repelled the assault and protected the facility.

State Response: "A Declaration of War"

The incident has sent shockwaves through Kaiama LGA, a region that has faced escalating security challenges from armed groups and extremist cells operating along the state's expansive forest borders.

In swift response to the attack, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, ordered an immediate, full-scale tactical operation. A combined force consisting of police operatives, military personnel, forest guards, and local vigilantes has been deployed to comb the surrounding forests and choke suspected escape routes.

"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." — CP Ojo Adekimi

 

 

Community on Edge

While authorities have assured residents that security presence has been heavily reinforced across vulnerable local communities, fear remains high. Local leaders and residents are urgently calling for permanent military and police checkpoints, pointing out that the vast, interconnected forests make the border areas highly susceptible to rapid insurgent raids.

The police command has urged the public to remain calm, vigilant, and to forward any actionable intelligence or unusual sightings to security agencies to assist in the ongoing rescue mission.

The security situation in our border towns requires urgent, sustained attention. What more do you think the government should do to permanently secure vulnerable communities in Kwara? Let us know in the comments.