Gunmen abducted at least 25 people in two separate attacks in Nigeria’s north-central Kwara state, including raids on a police station, a traditional ruler’s palace and a night prayer gathering, police said Monday.
Suspected bandits attacked the police divisional headquarters in Yashikira, a community in Baruten local government area near Nigeria’s northwestern border, at around 2 a.m. Sunday, according to the Kwara State Police Command.
Police said officers on duty repelled the attack on the station. However, the gunmen also stormed the palace of the Emir of Yashikira, set parts of the building on fire and abducted 10 residents before fleeing to an unknown location.
Kwara has faced growing insecurity in recent years, with attacks linked to armed groups operating across forested border areas. The groups, widely referred to locally as bandits, are often involved in kidnappings for ransom.
Kwara State Police Commissioner Ojo Adekimi said a joint security operation had been launched involving the military, forest guards and local vigilantes. He said teams were searching nearby forests and suspected hideouts to rescue the victims and arrest the attackers.
In a separate incident, police said gunmen attacked a night vigil at Ori-Oke Ajaiye in Ekiti local government area late Friday, killing three worshippers and abducting 15 others.
A local pastor reported that the attackers stormed the prayer gathering at around 8:30 p.m., opened fire indiscriminately and seized several people.
Police said tactical teams, including drone operators and specialised mobile force personnel, had been deployed to track the assailants and conduct search-and-rescue operations.
Nigeria has struggled for years with armed gangs in its northern and central regions, where communities are frequently targeted in raids, kidnappings and attacks on security posts.