Armed men abduct 10 from Kwara emir's palace, set it ablaze

Armed men launched a coordinated attack on the palace of the Emir of Yashikira and the local police divisional headquarters in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State in the early hours of Monday, abducting 10 people and setting part of the palace ablaze.

The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that the attackers struck around 2 a.m. in a simultaneous assault on both targets. The police said the attack on the station was successfully repelled by officers on duty, but the assailants managed to abduct 10 individuals from the palace before fleeing to an unknown destination. Residents reported that those taken included wives and children of the traditional ruler, Alhaji Umar Seriki. Witnesses said the attackers arrived on motorcycles, firing sporadically, and broke into the inner quarters of the palace. Several vehicles belonging to the palace were also set on fire.

In response, the Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, ordered a large-scale security operation involving the police, military, forest guards, and local vigilantes. The teams have been deployed to search nearby forests and suspected hideouts in an effort to rescue the victims. The commissioner...