Bandits Storm Kwara Emir’s Palace, Abduct Wives, Children in Midnight Raid

Suspected bandits launched a coordinated assault on Yashikira community in Kwara State’s Baruten Local Government Area, setting the Emir’s palace ablaze and abducting at least 10 persons including multiple wives and children of the traditional ruler in an attack that has heightened tensions across the state’s northern region.

The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed that suspected armed bandits launched a coordinated midnight attack on Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area, burning part of the Emir’s palace and abducting 10 people, including wives and children of the traditional ruler, Alhaji Umar Seriki.

The command said the attackers struck at about 2:00 a.m. on Monday, May 25, 2026, in a simultaneous assault on the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters and the Emir’s palace, describing it as a “coordinated and desperate operation.” According to reports, about 15 suspected bandits were involved in the invasion, which occurred just days before the Eid el-Kabir celebrations.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the command said the attack resulted in the abduction of 10 persons, while security operatives successfully repelled the assault on the police station. The police noted that the swift response of the officers prevented the bandits from overrunning the police facility.

The Kwara State Police Command condemned what it called “the cowardly and audacious attack,” stating that the armed criminals, in a “coordinated and desperate assault,” simultaneously attacked the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters and the Palace of the Emir of Yashikira. The statement added that during the attack, part of the palace was set ablaze, while ten people were abducted and taken to an unknown destination.

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Following the incident, Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, immediately ordered a full-scale, intelligence-driven tactical operation involving the military, police, 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 command stated that it remains battle-ready and fully determined to confront these “enemies of peace” with every lawful operational asset and strategy at its disposal. The police vowed: “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.”

However, earlier accounts from residents painted a more harrowing picture of the attack. Sources said the attackers stormed the community between about 12:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m., firing sporadically before advancing on the palace and surrounding areas. Eyewitnesses reported that the gunmen arrived on motorcycles and moved directly to the palace complex, overpowering local vigilantes and operating for hours while terrified villagers fled into nearby bushes for safety.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said three wives and four children of the traditional ruler were among those abducted during the invasion. “I just finished communicating with my father right now. In his report, he said three of the wives of the Emir and four children were abducted, including some resident members of the community,” the resident said.

Another witness, Tukur Ahmed, corroborated this account, stating: “They came on motorcycles and went straight to the palace. They were shooting into the air and broke into the inner quarters where the Emir’s wives and children were. They took three of the wives and four children, alongside some other residents, before setting the cars on fire and leaving the town.”

Sources also confirmed that several vehicles belonging to the palace were set ablaze during the raid, causing extensive property damage estimated in millions of naira. It was further gathered that the Emir was not present in the palace at the time of the attack and escaped unharmed.

A senior police officer at the Baruten Divisional Police Headquarters located at Kosubosu, who sought anonymity, confirmed the development, stating that security agencies had commenced efforts to rescue the abducted victims and track down the attackers. “We have sent signal to the state police headquarters in Ilorin and we have commenced manhunt of the suspected bandits,” the officer said.

Meanwhile, security agencies have commenced bush-combing and surveillance operations across the area as part of ongoing efforts to rescue the victims and apprehend the attackers. The police command has assured residents of Yashikira and other parts of Kaiama Local Government Area that security operations have been intensified across vulnerable communities, with surveillance, intelligence gathering, and aggressive bush-combing operations ongoing.

This attack came barely 48 hours after another deadly incident in Kwara State. On Saturday night, armed men invaded a prayer ground at Ori-Oke Ajaiye on the outskirts of Ikiran village in Ekiti Local Government Area, killing three worshippers and abducting 15 others during a vigil. These two attacks, happening within days of each other, have raised significant concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of North Central Nigeria.

Kwara North has in recent months witnessed a significant escalation in banditry, with repeated attacks on rural communities, highways, and traditional institutions across Baruten, Kaiama, Edu, and Patigi local government areas. In February 2026, youths from Kwara North staged a protest demanding an end to incessant killings and bandit attacks ravaging communities in the region. The protesters alleged that recent attacks on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area claimed between 162 and 200 lives within two days.

More recently, in April 2026, armed bandits attacked the Nuku community in Kaiama Local Government Area, killing five forest guards. The bandits, who reportedly stormed the community in large numbers at about 3:00 am, also destroyed property worth millions of naira, including setting motorcycles belonging to forest guards ablaze and burning patrol vehicles operated by mobile police.

Residents have repeatedly blamed the recurring attacks on the porous border routes around Baruten Local Government Area, alleging that armed groups frequently infiltrate communities using the difficult terrain and proximity to inter-state routes. Some residents have also accused security agencies of failing to provide adequate protection despite repeated warnings over increasing bandit activities in surrounding villages.

The police command has urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, adding that useful information from members of the public would assist security agencies in rescuing the abducted victims and apprehending those behind the attack. CP Adekimi vowed that the command would not bow to threats, intimidation, or acts of terror orchestrated by bandits and criminal elements operating within any part of the state.

Bandits Storm Kwara Emir’s Palace, Abduct Wives, Children in Midnight Raid

Six Contest EFCC Move to Seize Assets Linked to Ex-Gov Timipre Sylva

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the EFCC’s forfeiture case against nine properties linked to former Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva, as six parties have filed affidavits claiming ownership of several high-value Abuja assets while three properties remain unclaimed.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is seeking the permanent forfeiture of nine properties allegedly linked to former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva. However, the legal proceedings have taken a complex turn following the emergence of multiple claimants who have stepped forward to contest the anti-graft agency’s move.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned the case to July 16, 2026, after the EFCC’s counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, failed to file a report of compliance regarding an earlier interim forfeiture order granted by the court. The court had on April 24, 2026, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the nine properties following an ex parte motion filed by the EFCC under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006. The properties are located in choice areas of Abuja, including Maitama, Wuse II, Garki, Mpape, and Dakibiyu.

At the resumed hearing on Monday, approximately six parties filed affidavits to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government. Legal representatives appeared for various claimants staking ownership of different assets. Benson Ibezim appeared for claimants linked to properties numbered 1 and 9, which include four blocks of terraces at Dakibiyu and two blocks of buildings in Garki currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) . Alex Ejiesieme (SAN) represented parties contesting properties 2 and 5, comprising a duplex with penthouse and office complex in Maitama, as well as eight units of one-bedroom flats at No. 8 Misratah Street, Wuse II, Abuja. Ajayi Olowo appeared for property number 7, described as two blocks containing 12 flats at Thaba Tseka Crescent, Wuse II, while Emmanuella Imonikeh represented claimants linked to property number 3, a standalone duplex at Palm Springs Estate, Mpape.

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However, the EFCC noted that no individual or entity has come forward to claim ownership of the remaining three properties. The unclaimed properties include a block of 10 flats located in Wuse Zone 4, a six-unit block of flats at No. 1 Mubi Close, and a standalone duplex at No. 18 Nile Lake, Plot 1271, Maitama. The EFCC disclosed that it had filed a motion on notice on May 22 seeking a final forfeiture order for the three unclaimed properties, arguing that no party had shown cause against their permanent seizure by the Federal Government. However, Justice Egwuatu observed that the motion was not yet before the court.

The judge also noted procedural lapses, as the EFCC lawyer admitted that only one party had been served with the relevant court processes. Although the commission had complied with the publication order by placing notices in the Tribune and Punch newspapers, Justice Egwuatu directed the EFCC to publish the motion seeking final forfeiture of the three unclaimed properties in the same manner the interim order was published. He further ordered the commission to serve all parties yet to receive the processes and file the necessary compliance reports in the interest of a fair hearing. The judge also directed the EFCC to respond to all processes filed by interested parties before adjourning the matter until July 16 for a report of compliance.

The properties in question are alleged to be proceeds of unlawful activities, and Sylva has been linked to an ongoing coup trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The federal government is prosecuting six men, including two retired military officers and a serving police officer, on charges including treason, terrorism, and money laundering. Sylva’s name appears in seven out of the total 13 charges in that case. The six defendants in the coup trial are Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (a retired major-general), Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (a retired navy captain), Ahmed Ibrahim (a police inspector), Zekeri Umoru (an electrician at the Presidential Villa), Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani (a Zaria-based Islamic cleric). They were arraigned on April 22, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to all 13 charges. The federal government has presented video evidence linking the defendants to the alleged coup plot, with recordings played in open court showing some defendants admitting awareness of the conspiracy.

Sylva, who has not returned to Nigeria since the coup allegations emerged last year, has denied any wrongdoing. He has stated that he was abroad for medical and professional engagements when the reports surfaced. Some of his aides and domestic workers were arrested last year following a raid on his home in Abuja in connection with the coup allegations.

This is not the first time the former governor has faced legal battles with the EFCC. In 2012, Sylva was charged on a six-count charge of allegedly stealing N6.5 billion from Bayelsa State coffers. He was also re-arraigned in 2013 on an amended 42-count charge of money laundering amounting to N19.2 billion during his tenure as governor between 2009 and 2012. According to EFCC findings, Sylva and his accomplices allegedly used three companies – Marlin Maritime Limited, Eat Catering Services Limited, and Haloween-Blue Construction and Logistics Limited – to move about N19.2 billion from Bayelsa State coffers under the false pretence of using the withdrawn money to augment salaries of state government workers.

The court has adjourned the current forfeiture case to July 16, 2026, for a report of compliance.

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Police Arrest Tailor for ‘Fake Bandit Attack’ Video on TikTok 

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a tailor, Qowiy Oloyede, for allegedly staging a fake bandit attack video on TikTok to gain followers, as authorities warn that offenders will face prosecution under the Cybercrimes Act.

A Nigerian man has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly fabricating and circulating a false video that claimed armed bandits had invaded the Atan Ota community in Ogun State. The suspect, identified as Qowiy Oloyede (also reported in some sources as Kowi Oloyede), is a tailor residing on Oriya Sokoto Road, Atan Ota.

The arrest was made on May 23, 2026, following a complaint lodged by one Ayinla Sodiq of Obasanjo Ota, who accused Oloyede of creating and sharing a misleading video designed to cause public panic. According to reports from counterinsurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) immediately interrogated the suspect, who allegedly admitted to fabricating the entire incident solely to gain TikTok followers and boost online engagement.

A viral video circulating online shows the suspect kneeling before a police officer as he confessed to orchestrating the fake attack. Oloyede disclosed that the “herder” featured in his video as an attacker was actually a local cattle rearer who regularly grazes cows behind his shop. According to the suspect, the herdsman initially declined to participate in the staged clip before eventually agreeing.

During questioning, Oloyede made several startling revelations. Claiming he could neither read nor write, he stated that he instructed his apprentice to draft the alarming captions that accompanied the video when it was posted online. He further revealed that this was not an isolated incident, admitting that he had produced and posted two similar fake attack videos earlier in the week—one on Monday and another on Wednesday.

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Police operatives have successfully recovered photographic and video evidence directly linked to the fabricated publications. Authorities have indicated that Oloyede is expected to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) in Abeokuta for a more thorough investigation and possible prosecution.

The Police Command has issued a strong warning to residents and content creators against spreading false security information, stating that those found guilty of circulating fake news will face prosecution under the Cybercrimes Act. They stressed that such actions are capable of inciting severe public panic and disrupting public order, urging citizens to rigorously verify sensitive information before amplifying it on social media platforms.

This incident is part of a disturbing trend of content creators staging fake security incidents for social media attention. In a similar case, the Edo State Police Command previously arraigned a 24-year-old TikToker, Osarobo Omoyemen, popularly known as “Madam Oil Rice,” for fabricating a kidnapping story to gain followers. Omoyemen had falsely claimed she was kidnapped along Upper Sakponba Road in Benin City, rescued by police, and detained at a police station where N10,000 was allegedly collected as bail. She later confessed that the entire story was staged solely to generate online content.

The FCT Police Command has also dealt with a similar case. In April 2026, the command arrested one Pam Joshua, a 24-year-old resident of Abuja, for deliberately fabricating a video using gunshot sounds and footage sourced from TikTok, falsely presenting it as an ongoing terrorist attack in the nation’s capital. The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, stated that the suspect admitted to creating the fake content just to get followers on TikTok, warning content creators that “the police have advanced” and will arrest anyone posting false videos capable of causing panic.

Security experts have repeatedly raised concerns over the growing trend of fake security alerts and misinformation on social media platforms, warning that such actions could trigger unnecessary panic and undermine public confidence in security agencies. In one notable instance, a content creator identified as “Za Baba” was flagged by fact-checkers for producing a staged video mocking Nigerian soldiers as weak while glorifying bandits as “warriors,” a case that Zagazola Makama described as “reckless amplification of enemy narratives.”

Authorities have made it clear that these arrests serve as a deterrent to others who may attempt to misuse social media to create panic or disrupt public peace. The Police Command has urged the public to verify information before sharing on social media platforms, emphasizing that misinformation capable of inciting fear and public disorder will not be tolerated.

Police Arrest Tailor for ‘Fake Bandit Attack’ Video on TikTok