Suspected bandits have abducted a traditional ruler in Olayinka community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, alongside his wife and another person during a late-night attack on his palace.
The gunmen were said to have stormed the palace around 1:40 a.m. on Saturday, firing sporadically into the air to scare residents before whisking the victims away to an unknown location.
A resident described the invasion as terrifying, noting that the attackers were heavily armed and no one could challenge them.
“The bandits invaded the palace around 1:40 a.m. They came heavily armed and took the monarch away without resistance because everyone was terrified,” the source said.
Another community member confirmed that the monarch’s wife and one other individual were also taken during the operation, adding that the royal father was recently elevated and installed by the Kwara State Government earlier this year.
The attack has further heightened fear in the area, as it adds to a troubling pattern of kidnappings targeting traditional rulers in Kwara South.
It is the third reported case within a year, with two monarchs abducted in 2025 and later released after ransom was allegedly paid.
