By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin
In the early hours of today, terrorists set ablaze the palace of Emir of Yashikira in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, and abducted four wives, two children and four aides, as they attempted to flee from the inferno.
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 on Saturday.
The terrorists also launched an onslaught at the nearby police divisional headquarters but were reportedly repelled by the officers on duty.
Nggossips reliably gathered from the locals that the ten persons abducted in the palace while attempting to flee the fire inferno were four wives of the Emir, two children and four palace aides.
Spokesperson of the state command SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the attack in a statement issued Monday afternoon.
The statement reads in part: “The armed criminals, in a coordinated and desperate assault at about 2 a.m., 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 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,” it stated.
Adetoun also said in the statement that “following the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, CP Ojo Adekimi, immediately ordered a full-scale, intelligence-driven tactical operation involving the Police, Military, Forest Guards, Vigilantes, and other security stakeholders to comb the surrounding forests and criminal hideouts with the sole objective of rescuing the victims unhurt and bringing the perpetrators to justice.”
The State Police Command in the statement condemned “in the strongest possible terms the cowardly and audacious attack carried out by suspected bandits in the early hours of today”, stressing that “the Command will not bow to threats, intimidation, or acts of terror orchestrated by bandits and criminal elements operating within any part of the state.”
“The Command remains battle-ready and fully determined to confront these enemies of peace with every lawful operational asset and strategy at its disposal.
“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,” the CP stated.
The Command also assured residents of Yashikira, Baruten LGA, and the entire state that security operations have been intensified across vulnerable areas.
“In addition, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and aggressive bush-combing operations are ongoing,” the statement concluded.
Article How terrorists abducted Kwara emir’s wives, children Live On NgGossips.
