Suspected bandits have abducted a newly installed traditional ruler, his wife, and one other individual in Olayinka community, located in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
According to local sources, the attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday when heavily armed assailants stormed the monarch’s palace at about 1:40 a.m. The gunmen reportedly fired sporadically, creating panic before taking the victims to an undisclosed location.
A resident, who spoke anonymously due to security concerns, said the attackers met little resistance as fear gripped the community during the raid. The abducted monarch was said to have been recently elevated and formally installed by the state government earlier this year.
The incident has heightened concerns among residents, as it marks the third reported abduction of a traditional ruler in Kwara South within the past year. In previous cases, kidnapped monarchs were eventually released after ransom payments.
Community members described the trend as alarming, noting that traditional institutions are increasingly becoming targets of criminal groups. They urged government authorities and security agencies to take swift action to address the worsening insecurity in the area.
As of the time of this report, there has been no official statement from security agencies, although efforts to secure the release of the victims are said to be ongoing.
The development follows earlier incidents in the region, including the abduction and subsequent release of the Ojibara of Bayagan Ile and the Oniwo of Afin, both of whom regained freedom after reported ransom payments.
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