Terrorists Used Diversion To Attack Yashikira Palace — Source

A palace source in Yashikira Emirate, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, has alleged that terrorists used a diversionary threat against a nearby community to draw vigilantes away from the Emir’s palace before attacking the town.

The source who spoke with Sahara Reporters claimed to have survived the attack and said the assailants had earlier circulated threats that they would invade Karonji community, a village within the emirate about 17 kilometres from Yashikira town.

According to him, the false alarm caused a security redeployment that left the Emir’s palace exposed.

The source said the Emir became concerned after reports emerged that terrorists were advancing towards Karonji.

According to the source, “Before the palace invasion, there was a threat from the terrorists that they were planning to attack Karonji community.

“Karonji is a village in Yashikira emirate, it is just about 17 kilometres to the main town of Yashikira.”

He said the Emir personally mobilised local vigilantes to defend the community.

“So immediately they learnt that the terrorists were moving to Karonji, the Emir himself mobilised his vigilantes to save his people.

“This situation left him vulnerable in his palace. He was with only two vigilantes when the incident happened because he had already sent others to Karonji,” the source said.

The palace source alleged that government authorities had prior knowledge of threats against Karonji but failed to deploy adequate security support.

The source alleged, “The government was aware of this threat on Karonji, and they did not even bother to mobilise any security operatives to protect Yashikira.

“And this is not the first time the government has failed us. We have been telling the government since 2019 about issues like this.”

He said the Emir had repeatedly relied on local vigilantes to protect villages under his domain.

The source added, “The Emir is the one sending security operatives to protect these villages under him.

“And anytime he sends his vigilantes there, he is left with very few in his palace because they are limited in number.”

‘The Terrorists Have Informants’

According to the source, the attackers may have changed their target after learning that vigilantes had moved to Karonji.

The source said, “So instead of the terrorists proceeding to Karonji as planned, they changed their direction and came to Yashikira directly.

“That is to show that they have informants among us who told them that the vigilantes were waiting for them at Karonji.”