Military personnel stationed at a checkpoint in Yashikira, a community in Kwara State, abandoned their post as suspected terrorists launched an assault on the area. Instead of confronting the attackers or securing the civilians caught in the crossfire, the soldiers relocated a short distance away and began collecting N100 from motorists attempting to flee the violence, according to reports reaching newsrooms in Ilorin and Abuja.
Attack Exposes Security Vacuum in Yashikira
The incident occurred in Yashikira, a settlement that falls under the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, near Nigeria's border with Benin. Residents described hearing heavy gunfire as the attackers moved through the community. Local sources said the soldiers who were supposed to provide security coverage simply left their positions when the assault began.
"People were running in all directions. There was no one to protect us," one resident told journalists by phone, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. The absence of military personnel during the attack left the community exposed for several hours, locals said.
The Nigerian Army has not issued an official statement on the incident as of publication time. Military spokespeople in Abuja did not respond to requests for comment.
Checkpoint Becomes Extortion Point
Within minutes of abandoning their original post, the same soldiers set up an informal checkpoint along the route leading out of Yashikira. Motorists fleeing the attack were stopped and forced to pay N100 before they could continue. The amount, while modest in absolute terms, represented a significant burden for rural residents in an area where daily wages often fall below N2,000.
Transport workers operating routes through the Baruten area confirmed that soldiers at ad hoc checkpoints have periodically demanded payments from drivers, though the practice typically involves higher amounts on major highways. The specific targeting of fleeing civilians during an active security situation has drawn sharp criticism from community leaders.
"These people were terrified. Their homes were under attack, and the same soldiers meant to defend them were demanding money just to let them pass," said a community elder who requested anonymity.
Pattern of Security Failures in Northern Kwara
The Yashikira incident adds to a growing list of security concerns in Kwara State's northern local government areas. Baruten and neighboring LGAs have experienced increased criminal activity in recent months, including armed robbery and occasional attacks by suspected bandits operating from bases in adjacent states.
Security analysts point to stretched military resources and poor supervision of deployed troops as contributing factors. Soldiers stationed in remote areas sometimes operate with minimal oversight, creating conditions where misconduct can go unreported for extended periods.
The Defence Headquarters in Abuja has previously acknowledged challenges with troop morale and logistics in far-flung postings but has not addressed specific allegations of extortion at checkpoints.
Residents Demand Accountability
Community leaders in Yashikira have called for a formal investigation into the soldiers' conduct during the attack. They want the identities of the personnel involved made public and disciplinary action taken.
"We cannot have soldiers who run from danger and then profit from the chaos they created," said a local chief who spoke from his home in Baruten. "The army must act on this, or people will lose all faith in the security forces."
Civil society organisations operating in Kwara State have echoed the calls for accountability. The Incident represents a breach of the fundamental contract between soldiers and the communities they are deployed to protect, advocacy groups said in a joint statement.
Military Faces Scrutiny Over Conduct
The Yashikira episode surfaces broader questions about soldier conduct during security operations across Nigeria. Reports of extortion at checkpoints are not unprecedented, though military authorities have long maintained that such behaviour represents isolated incidents rather than systemic problems.
Human rights monitors have documented cases where soldiers set up unauthorized barriers to extract payments from commuters, particularly on roads serving rural communities where victims are unlikely to report incidents to proper authorities. The practice disproportionately affects poor Nigerians who depend on motorcycles and minibuses for transportation.
Military reform advocates argue that stronger oversight mechanisms and anonymous reporting systems would help expose misconduct that currently goes unpunished.
What Comes Next for Yashikira
The military has not announced whether any investigation has been opened into the Yashikira incident. Kwara State's government, based in Ilorin, has also remained silent on whether it intends to raise the matter with the Defence Headquarters.
Residents say they have received no update on whether additional troops will be deployed to Baruten or whether those involved in the attack have been identified. Without visible accountability measures, community members say they feel exposed and uncertain about their safety.
Human rights groups say they will be monitoring the situation closely. If no formal investigation is announced within the next two weeks, they plan to escalate their calls for action through official channels in Abuja.
Security analysts point to stretched military resources and poor supervision of deployed troops as contributing factors. Soldiers stationed in remote areas sometimes operate with minimal oversight, creating conditions where misconduct can go unreported for extended periods.
