The Kwara State Police Command has publicly condemned the brazen assault on the Yashikira community in Kaiama Local Government Area, labeling it as both cowardly and desperate. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, targeted the police divisional headquarters and the palace of the Emir of Yashikira, Alhaji Umar Seriki.
According to a statement released by the command’s spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, the armed criminals launched a simultaneous attack at approximately 2:00 a.m. During the assault, a section of the Emir’s palace was set on fire, and ten individuals, including two of the Emir’s wives, were kidnapped.
However, police operatives stationed at the Yashikira Divisional Headquarters successfully repelled the attack on the station, preventing further casualties. In response to the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, has ordered an extensive intelligence-driven operation involving the police, military, forest guards, vigilantes, and other security agencies. The combined forces are tasked with combing the surrounding forests and criminal hideouts to rescue the victims unharmed and apprehend the perpetrators.
The commissioner has vowed that the command will not be intimidated by acts of terror from bandits or any criminal elements within the state. He emphasized that the command is fully prepared to confront these enemies of peace using all lawful operational resources and strategies. “These criminals have declared war on peace-loving citizens, and we are ready to hunt them down relentlessly. We will deploy every operational capacity to smoke them out, dismantle their networks, rescue all abducted victims, and ensure they face the full wrath of the law,” the CP declared.
Meanwhile, the command has assured residents of Yashikira, Kaiama LGA, and the entire state that security operations have been intensified in vulnerable areas. Ongoing efforts include enhanced surveillance, intelligence gathering, and aggressive bush-combing operations to track down the criminals and prevent future attacks.