Gunmen Abduct 25 People in Twin Attacks in Kwara State* _Security Forces Launch Manhunt as Communities Reel from Fear.

Kwara State was thrown into mourning and fear on Sunday after gunmen carried out two coordinated attacks in Baruten and Ekiti Local Government Areas, abducting 25 people and killing three. The incidents, which happened in the early hours of May 25, 2026, have renewed concerns over rising insecurity in the North Central region.

Attack on Yashikira Palace and Police Station

In the first attack, armed men stormed the palace of the Emir of Yashikira, Alhaji Umar Sariki, in Baruten LGA. According to local sources, the assailants opened fire indiscriminately, set parts of the palace ablaze, and abducted 10 people, including palace staff and relatives of the traditional ruler.

The gunmen also targeted the nearby Yashikira Police Station, engaging officers in a brief gun battle before overpowering them. Several residents said the attackers operated for nearly an hour without immediate resistance, carting away weapons and abducting more victims.

A community leader who spoke on condition of anonymity said the attack left residents in shock. “This is the first time they have come this close to the Emir’s palace. People are running out of the town because nobody feels safe anymore,” he said.

Night Vigil Turns Bloody in Ekiti LGA

Hours later, a second group of gunmen struck in Osi, Ekiti LGA, where residents were holding a night vigil. The attackers opened fire on worshippers, killing three people on the spot and abducting 15 others. 

Witnesses described scenes of panic as people fled into nearby bushes for safety. “We were praying when we started hearing gunshots. Everyone scattered. Some of us hid in the forest until morning,” one survivor recounted.

The abducted victims include men, women, and teenagers. Families of the victims have appealed to security agencies and the state government to act fast before the captors move them out of the state.

The Kwara State Police Command confirmed both attacks in a statement released Monday morning. Police Public Relations Officer, Ejire Adeyemi Toun, said joint teams comprising the police, military, and local vigilantes have been deployed to comb the forests and border areas for the kidnappers.

“The command is working round the clock to ensure the safe rescue of all abducted persons and to bring the perpetrators to justice,” the statement read. It added that aerial surveillance and intelligence gathering were ongoing in the affected areas.

The state government also condemned the attacks, describing them as “baric and unacceptable.” Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq directed security agencies to intensify patrols in Baruten and Ekiti LGAs, which share borders with Benin Republic and have become vulnerable to cross-border banditry.

Sunday’s attacks are the latest in a string of violent incidents that have plagued Kwara’s border communities. Baruten and Kaiama LGAs, in particular, have witnessed repeated invasions by armed groups suspected to be bandits operating from neighboring states and across the border.

Security analysts say the porous borders, poor road networks, and limited presence of security personnel make these areas easy targets. Residents have repeatedly called for the establishment of more forward operating bases and the deployment of technology-driven surveillance to curb the menace.

Civil society groups and traditional rulers in the state have urged both federal and state governments to treat the situation as an emergency. They warned that if left unchecked, the attacks could displace more communities and disrupt farming activities ahead of the planting season.

“We cannot continue like this. People cannot sleep in their homes, and now they cannot even pray in peace. Government must act decisively,” said a youth leader in Osi.

For now, families of the abducted victims wait anxiously for news, while security forces continue their search in the dense forests believed to be hideouts for the gunmen.

The Kwara State Government has set up a situation room to coordinate updates and provide support to affected families. It also urged residents to report suspicious movements to security agencies.

As investigations continue, the twin attacks serve as another grim reminder of the urgent need to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, especially in rural and border communities.