By Ayo Kehinde
Suspected terrorists holding the wives of the Emir of Yashikira and several residents abducted during a violent midnight raid have threatened to forcefully marry the female captives to their commanders if a ₦150 million ransom demand is not met, security sources involved in ongoing rescue negotiations have confirmed.
The threat marks a chilling escalation in the standoff following the May 24, 2026, coordinated attack on the Emir’s palace and the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. The assault, which left at least 10 people abducted, has triggered widespread fear across affected communities in Kwara State.
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the abductors communicated the latest ultimatum through intermediaries linked to ongoing ransom discussions, warning that continued delay in payment would result in forced marriage of the female victims, including the Emir’s wives, to members of their camp.
“The abductors have warned that if the ransom is not paid, they will marry off the Emir’s wives and other female captives to their commanders”, a source said, adding that the message has been relayed to local vigilante groups and security operatives coordinating rescue efforts.
The kidnappers are demanding approximately ₦15 million per victim for an estimated 10 abductees, bringing the total ransom to about ₦150 million. Negotiation channels remain active, but progress has reportedly been slow due to logistical and security constraints.
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that the attackers struck in large numbers, overwhelmed security personnel, and operated with tactical coordination during the raid. The command also confirmed that the palace sustained significant fire and property damage.
A surviving police officer described the attackers as heavily armed and highly organised, noting that they arrived on motorcycles and quickly overran the limited security presence at the palace and police facility.
“The attackers were heavily armed and tactically superior. They overwhelmed us and moved into the palace, spending close to an hour abducting victims”, the officer said.
Residents of Yashikira reported that the gunmen set parts of the palace ablaze, destroyed vehicles, and looted property before fleeing with women and children among the abductees.
Community tensions remain high as families of the victims continue to await updates, while security agencies intensify search-and-rescue operations aimed at securing the release of the captives.
Authorities have assured that efforts are ongoing to track the abductors and prevent further escalation, though no breakthrough has yet been announced.
