Military Dismisses Claims Troops Abandoned Duty During Yashikira Palace Attack
The Joint Task Force, Operation Savannah Shield (OPSS), has dismissed reports alleging that troops abandoned their duty post during the recent attack on Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The military described the claims as false, misleading and a deliberate distortion of facts.
The clarification follows an online report alleging that troops deployed in the area left their operational post during the attack and failed to respond promptly to distress calls.
In a statement, Headquarters OPSS said the report was inaccurate, stressing that there is no troop deployment in Yashikira community as claimed.
It explained that its operational presence is based at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Chikanda, which remains the only designated deployment within the axis.
The statement was issued by Headquarters Joint Task Force, Operation Savannah Shield (OPSS), through its Acting Media Information Officer, Captain Jamilu Muhammad Yahaya, today.
The task force maintained that personnel at FOB Chikanda have continued to carry out their duties professionally and in line with operational directives, adding that allegations of negligence and extortion by troops were unfounded.
On the attack on the Emir of Yashikira’s palace, OPSS stated that the incident occurred on 25 May 2026, when armed criminals invaded the community, abducting residents and setting parts of the palace, including the sitting room and two vehicles, on fire.
According to the statement, troops at FOB Chikanda received information on the incident at about 1:45 a.m. and immediately mobilised to the scene, a distance of about 38.7 kilometres from their location.
The task force said troops arrived after the attackers had fled, but confirmed that they conducted a response operation upon arrival, while search efforts for the abducted victims were immediately intensified.
OPSS further rejected claims that its personnel failed to respond to the distress call, insisting that the response was swift upon receipt of credible information.
It added that ongoing security operations in the area include intensified surveillance, intelligence gathering, and coordinated patrols aimed at tracking the attackers and rescuing abducted victims.
The task force urged members of the public and media organisations to verify security-related reports through credible and official channels, warning that unverified publications could undermine ongoing operations and affect troop morale.
Headquarters OPSS reaffirmed its commitment to sustained operations across vulnerable communities in Kwara State, assuring residents that efforts are ongoing to restore peace and ensure the safe return of abducted victims.
By TimesNG