The Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central) Operation Savannah Shield (OPSS) has dismissed allegations that its troops abandoned their duty post and engaged in extortion activities during a terrorist attack on Yashikara community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.
In a statement issued by the Acting Media Information Officer of OPSS, Captain Jamilu Muhammed Yahaya, the task force described an online report alleging that troops relocated from Yashikara to Chikanda to establish checkpoints for extorting motorists as “false, misleading and a deliberate misrepresentation of facts.”
According to the statement, the report also claimed that troops failed to respond to a distress call during an attack on the Emir’s Palace in Yashikara.
Reacting to the allegations, OPSS clarified that it has no military deployment in Yashikara community, noting that its troops are stationed only at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Chikanda.
“For clarity, JTF OPSS has no deployment in Yashikara community, which clearly invalidates the claim that troops abandoned or relocated from the area during the incident,” the statement said.
The task force further rejected claims of extortion, insisting that its personnel have remained disciplined and professional while carrying out security operations across the area of responsibility.
Providing details of the attack on the Emir’s Palace, OPSS disclosed that troops at FOB Chikanda received information about the incident at about 1:45 a.m. on May 25, 2026, and immediately mobilised to the scene, located approximately 38.7 kilometres away.
Upon arrival, troops discovered that terrorists had abducted three women and five children. The attackers had also set ablaze the sitting room of the Emir’s residence and two vehicles within the palace premises.
The headquarters maintained that allegations suggesting troops failed to respond to the attack were “false and maliciously misleading,” stressing that personnel acted promptly upon receiving the distress call.
OPSS said such reports undermine the sacrifices and operational efforts of security personnel working to maintain peace and security in the region.
The task force urged members of the public and media organisations to verify information through credible channels before publication, warning that unverified reports could mislead the public, undermine military operations and affect troop morale.
