The Emir of Yashikira in the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, His Royal Highness, Amb (Dr) Alhaji Umar Sariki Usman, Sabikpassi II, has accused military personnel deployed to his community of abandoning their posts and fleeing during terrorist attacks.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with newsmen on Monday afternoon, the monarch expressed deep frustration over the inability of the Nigerian military to confront terrorists who have repeatedly invaded his domain.
He lamented that despite government assurances, no substantial reinforcement had been made to secure the community. Instead, he said, the burden of protection now rests on poorly equipped local vigilantes.
“We are yet to see the deployment of more security forces as promised by the government. They have visited the areas and they have gone back to their own camps. We are now relying on our local vigilante.
“My vigilante from the district, they are everywhere securing the community. Of course, if the terrorists launch a fresh attack now, we cannot rely on ourselves. The few military that are here are not solid enough to confront them,” the Emir said.
According to him, the soldiers stationed in the area are inexperienced and ill-equipped, often resorting to retreating whenever gunmen strike.
“In fact, they have been with us for long, but in most cases they cannot do much because they are not properly equipped. If you see them, you will see that they are young boys that are just from the training.
“They cannot go into any serious fighting. That is the reason they always drop their motorcycles and run away whenever the terrorists launch an attack,” he added.
The Emir’s revelation captures the escalating insecurity in northern Kwara, where rural communities have come under frequent attacks by armed terrorists who kill, abduct, and loot with impunity.
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