Fear gripped residents of the Yashikira community in the Kiama council area in Kwara as terrorists launched a fresh attack in the early hours of Monday, kidnapping several people, including members of an emir’s family.

The attack happened hours after bandits stormed a prayer ground in Ekiti LGA, killed three worshippers and kidnapped 15 others.

Several people were wounded in the attack. There was no record of any fatality at the time of filing this report.

Residents told the Peoples Gazette that the attack began around 12:40 a.m. on Monday.

“It was a terrible attack. I stayed very close to the palace and heard gunshots echo for several hours. As it is now, over ten people close to the emir were taken to an unknown location,” a resident, who did not want his name published because of security risks, told The Gazette.

During the attack, a police divisional headquarters and the emir’s palace were invaded, but the terrorists were reportedly repelled after several hours of a gun duel.

“The armed criminals, in a coordinated and desperate assault at about 0200hrs, simultaneously attacked the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters and the Palace of the Emir of Yashikira,” police spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi said in a statement on Monday.

Ms Ejire-Adeyemi explained that part of the palace was set ablaze, and 10 people were kidnapped.