The Amnesty International has urged Nigerian authorities to urgently secure the release of residents abducted during an armed attack on Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, where gunmen also reportedly set part of the Emir’s palace on fire.

In a statement on Monday, the organisation condemned the 25 May 2026 incident, warning that it reflects a worsening security situation affecting several rural communities in northern Nigeria, where armed groups have continued to carry out repeated raids.

Amnesty International called for swift action, saying authorities must ensure the “safe rescue of all abducted persons” and carry out thorough investigations to bring those responsible to justice.

The group also warned that rural communities remain highly exposed to attacks, abductions, and destruction of property due to persistent gaps in security coverage.

It further referenced a separate incident that occurred less than 24 hours earlier in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, where worshippers at a night vigil in Ori-Oke Ajaiye were reportedly attacked, with several people killed and others abducted.

According to the Kwara State Police Command, suspected bandits launched a coordinated midnight assault on Yashikira community at about 2:00 a.m., targeting both the Emir’s palace and the local police divisional headquarters.

The police said 10 people were abducted in the attack, including members of the Emir’s household, while part of the palace was burnt during the operation described as a “coordinated and desperate attack.”

Security operatives reportedly repelled the assault on the police station, and a joint operation involving the military, police, vigilantes, and other security agencies has since been launched to rescue the victims.

The incident has heightened concerns over recurring attacks in Kwara State, with calls mounting for stronger preventive measures and improved protection for vulnerable rural communities.