Nigerian Soldiers Abandon Yashikira During Terrorist Attack — Then Set Up Checkpoint to Extort N100

Residents of Yashikira in Kwara State were left to fend for themselves when soldiers stationed in the community abandoned their post during a terrorist attack, only to relocate several kilometres away and establish an unofficial checkpoint where they collected N100 from motorists, according to accounts from local residents and security sources.

The incident, which occurred in recent weeks, has sparked outrage in the region and raised questions about the readiness and conduct of some Nigerian military units deployed to counter the escalating threat of banditry and terrorism across the north-central states. The soldiers who fled the attack later positioned themselves along a major road, demanding the payment from drivers passing through the area.

Attack Exposes Security Vacuum in Yashikira

Yashikira, a community in Kwara State's local government area, has long relied on the presence of military personnel stationed there to provide a first line of defence against armed groups that have increasingly targeted rural settlements. Residents say the soldiers were present at a forward operating base when suspected terrorists approached the village. Instead of engaging the attackers or organising a defence, the unit withdrew, leaving civilians exposed.

"We saw them leave. They loaded their vehicles and drove away while the attackers were still in the area," said a local resident who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. "The people had to scatter into the bush. Some lost property. Some lost livestock."

Authorities in Kwara have not publicly confirmed the number of casualties or the extent of damage caused during the attack, though local media reported that several homes were burned and a number of residents were displaced following the incident.

Checkpoint Established Kilometres Away

Within hours of abandoning Yashikira, the same soldiers set up an improvised checkpoint on a road several kilometres from where the attack took place. There, they stopped vehicles and demanded payment of N100 from each motorist before allowing them to continue. The amount, while modest, has drawn criticism as an apparent exploitation of drivers who had no alternative routes available to them.

The practice continued for several days, according to residents and commercial drivers who regularly travel through the area. Videos and photographs circulating on social media appeared to show soldiers in uniform collecting money from drivers at the roadside position.

The Nigerian Army has yet to issue an official statement addressing the specific incident. Queries sent to defence headquarters requesting comment on the allegations of desertion and extortion were not answered by the time of publication.

Security Failures and Public Trust

The incident reflects a broader pattern of security challenges in Kwara State, where communities have repeatedly called for greater protection against armed incursions. Bandit groups and terrorist cells operating in the north-central region have expanded their reach in recent years, targeting remote villages that lack adequate policing or military presence.

Kwara has recorded multiple attacks over the past eighteen months, resulting in deaths, kidnappings, and large-scale displacement. The state government has publicly acknowledged the severity of the threat, though critics argue that response times and resource allocation remain insufficient to protect vulnerable populations.

The failure of soldiers to defend Yashikira has deepened mistrust between residents and the security forces assigned to protect them. Community leaders say they reported the soldiers' conduct to military authorities but have received no confirmation that any investigation is underway.

Questions Over Military Accountability

The Defence Headquarters in Abuja has previously stated that personnel found guilty of cowardice or extortion face disciplinary proceedings under the Armed Forces Act. However, legal analysts and military veterans say the enforcement of these standards has been inconsistent, particularly in remote areas where oversight is limited.

The Nigerian Army typically deploys troops to flashpoints based on intelligence assessments and threat levels, but desertion and withdrawal without orders remain serious violations. Soldiers who abandon their post during an active attack can face court-martial proceedings, though convictions are rarely publicized.

Security experts say the extortion element adds another layer of concern. Extortion by uniformed personnel undermines public confidence in the military and can create perverse incentives, where soldiers prioritise personal gain over their assigned mission of protecting civilians.

Residents Demand Answers

Community leaders in Yashikira and surrounding villages are calling for a formal investigation into the soldiers' conduct. They are also urging the military to reinstate a visible security presence in the area to deter further attacks. Some residents have organised local vigilante groups, though they say they lack the training and equipment to confront heavily armed attackers.

"We cannot protect ourselves with sticks and cutlasses," said a village head from a neighbouring settlement who asked not to be identified. "The soldiers are supposed to be here. When they leave, we are completely exposed."

The Kwara State government said it was working with federal security agencies to assess the situation and improve protection for at-risk communities, though it provided no timeline for when additional forces might be deployed to the area.

What Comes Next

Military officials in the north-central theatre are expected to review the incident as part of routine operational assessments. However, human rights groups say formal disciplinary action is unlikely to be announced publicly, and it remains unclear whether any soldiers have been questioned or detained in connection with the alleged desertion and extortion.

Watchers of Nigeria's security landscape say the episode highlights the strain on ground forces operating in multiple states simultaneously. With troops stretched across multiple fronts against insurgents in the northeast, bandits in the northwest, and terrorist cells in the north-central region, some units have been deployed to areas where they lack local knowledge, adequate logistics, or clear command-and-control.

Residents of Yashikira are waiting. The next rainy season will bring new crops to harvest and new vulnerabilities to manage. Without a credible security response, many say they will continue to live under the shadow of attack, wondering if the soldiers sent to protect them will stand and fight or drive away to collect tolls on an empty road.