Armed bandits have launched a fresh attack on Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, burning the palace of the Emir and abducting an unspecified number of residents, mostly women and children, in the early hours of Monday.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the bandits, who were heavily armed, fired sporadically as they swept through the community before fleeing with their abducted victims.
The attack is the latest in a series of violent incursions into communities in Kwara State, raising fresh concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the North Central region.
In a related development, the Kwara State Police Command has assured residents that it is actively working to rescue 15 worshippers abducted by bandits at a prayer ground in Ekiti Local Government Area over the weekend.
The Command confirmed that three worshippers were killed during the attack, which occurred on Saturday night at the Ori-Oke Ajaiye prayer ground on the outskirts of Ikiran Village, while victims were gathered for a vigil.
In a statement, the Command described the attack as a gruesome onslaught and said it has commenced search and rescue operations. It pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The twin attacks have deepened anxiety among residents of Kwara State and intensified calls on security agencies and the Federal Government to take decisive action against the growing banditry crisis in the region.
About The Author
