The Kwara State Police Command yesterday condemned the audacious attack carried out by suspected bandits in Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area of the state.
The command said the attack occurred in the early hours of Monday in Yashikira town, Baruten Local Government Area.
The armed criminals, in a coordinated assault at about 2:00 a.m., simultaneously attacked the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters and the palace of the Emir of Yashikira, Alhaji Umar Seriki.
A statement issued Monday by the spokesperson of the command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed that during the attack, part of the palace was set ablaze, while 10 persons, including two wives of the Emir, were abducted.
However, the attack on the police station was successfully repelled by police operatives on duty.
The statement read: “Following the incident, the State Commissioner of Police, 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 Commissioner categorically vowed 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 command further assured residents of Yashikira, Kaiama Local Government Area and the entire state that security operations have been intensified across vulnerable areas.
It added that surveillance, intelligence gathering and aggressive bush-combing operations are ongoing.
Hammed Shittu
