In a concerning development in Nigeria’s Kwara state, suspected bandits carried out two coordinated attacks, resulting in the abduction of 25 individuals. The first attack occurred early Sunday in Yashikira, a community in the Baruten local government area, where gunmen targeted a police station and the palace of the Emir of Yashikira. During this assault, the attackers set parts of the palace on fire and kidnapped 10 residents, taking them to an undisclosed location.

Coordinated Assaults

The police divisional headquarters in Yashikira came under siege around 2 a.m. local time. Officers on duty managed to repel the attackers, but the assailants succeeded in causing significant damage and capturing hostages. The Kwara State Police Command has launched a joint operation with the military, forest guards, and local vigilantes to search nearby forests and suspected hideouts in an effort to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

In a separate incident, gunmen attacked a prayer gathering in the Ekiti local government area late on Friday. The assailants opened fire on worshippers holding a night vigil at Ori-Oke Ajaiye, resulting in the deaths of three people and the abduction of 15 others. The attack was reported by a local pastor who witnessed the gunmen storming the gathering and shooting sporadically before taking the victims away.

Security Response

In response to these incidents, police have deployed tactical teams, including a drone unit and specialized mobile force personnel, to carry out search-and-rescue operations and track down the attackers. The situation highlights the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria’s north-central region, where violent attacks by armed groups, often referred to as bandits, have become increasingly common.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.