Kwara Palace Raid Sparks Panic Over Forced Marriage Threats

By Babatunji Wusu – Deep anxiety has hit the Yashikira community in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. Terrorists who recently seized the wives of the local traditional ruler and other residents have threatened to marry off the female hostages to gang commanders unless families pay a massive ransom.

Insiders working on the rescue plans revealed that the gang is growing impatient over delays in receiving the cash. The violent palace raid took place during a coordinated midnight assault on both the royal residence and the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters. The criminals are currently demanding roughly ₦150 million in total to release the ten hostages, which equals about ₦15 million per person.

A security source told SaharaReporters, “The terrorists have threatened that if the ransom is not paid, they will marry off the Emir’s wives and other female victims to their commanders.” The source added that local vigilantes and state officers are deeply worried by this aggressive new tactic.

The crisis began in the early hours of Sunday, May 24, 2026, when heavily armed men on motorcycles overran the town. A surviving police officer explained that the invaders carried sophisticated rifles, whilst the officers on duty had only pistols. This weapon imbalance gave the attackers a massive advantage.

The gang spent nearly an hour destroying property and abducting women and children before setting sections of the building ablaze. The Kwara State Police Command later confirmed the details of the violent palace raid, validating that ten people were stolen during the assault. Security forces are now working around the clock to handle this horrific ransom deadline crisis and bring the victims home safely.