RismadarVoice Reporters
June 3, 2026
The Headquarters, Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation Savannah Shield (OPSS) has dismissed as false and misleading an online report alleging negligence and extortion by its troops deployed in parts of Kwara State.
The report, published by an online platform, had alleged that troops stationed at Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area abandoned their duty post during an attack and relocated to Chikanda, where they allegedly mounted checkpoints to extort motorists. It also claimed that soldiers failed to respond to a distress call during an attack on the Emir’s Palace in Yashikira.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Media Information Officer, Capt. Jamilu Muhammed Yahaya, OPSS described the allegations as a “deliberate misrepresentation of facts” and “false and misleading.”
The task force clarified that it has no deployment in Yashikira community, stating that its troops are stationed only at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Chikanda, where they continue to carry out their duties professionally.
It also rejected claims of extortion, insisting that personnel under the operation have remained disciplined and committed to safeguarding lives and property within their area of responsibility.
On the reported attack on the Emir’s Palace in Yashikira on May 25, 2026, the task force said troops at FOB Chikanda, located about 38.7 kilometres away, received distress information at approximately 1:45 a.m. and immediately mobilised to the scene.
According to the statement, on arrival, troops discovered that suspected terrorists had abducted three women and five children, while parts of the Emir’s residence and two vehicles were set ablaze.
OPSS maintained that its response was prompt and that the claim that troops failed to act was “false and maliciously misleading.”
The military formation further argued that such reports risk undermining public confidence in ongoing security operations and the morale of personnel working in volatile environments.
It urged members of the public and media organisations to verify sensitive security information from credible sources before publication, warning against the spread of narratives that could distort facts or discredit military operations.
The statement reaffirmed the commitment of Operation Savannah Shield to sustaining counter-terrorism and internal security operations aimed at restoring peace across the North Central region.
