30 Kwara Monarchs Abandon Palaces Over Heightened Kidnapping Crisis

At least 30 traditional rulers in the southern part of Kwara State have deserted their palaces following a surge in kidnappings, killings and violent attacks across their communities.

As reported by PUNCH, findings revealed that the affected monarchs have relocated to safer urban centres such as Ilorin, Osogbo, Offa and Lagos, leaving their domains without leadership for months, and in some cases, nearly a year.

Communities impacted by the development include Omugo, Afin, Oreke, Oreke Oke-Igbo, Olohuntele, Alabe, Ganmu Ailehri, Ologanmo and Igbo Agbon, where persistent insecurity has forced both residents and traditional authorities to flee.

A resident of Omugo, Wale Olasunkanmi, said the frequent attacks made it unsafe for traditional rulers to remain in their palaces, noting that they now only return briefly for official engagements.

“In the past, our traditional rulers lived among us and provided direction during crises, but now they hardly stay. The fear of abduction is too high, even for ordinary residents,” he said.

He recalled that a church attack on March 22, 2026, during which about eight persons were abducted, marked a turning point for the community as many families fled overnight.

Despite a slight improvement in security recently, Olasunkanmi noted that the continued absence of traditional rulers had weakened coordination and slowed efforts to rebuild confidence among returning residents.

In Oreke and Oreke Oke-Igbo, residents have largely abandoned their homes since June 2025 following repeated attacks, including an incident at a marble mining site where two police officers were killed.

A palace worker, Samuel Afolayan, said the attacks escalated from theft of food and livestock to kidnappings and killings, forcing widespread displacement.

“As we speak, the palace is empty and the entire community has been deserted. Even nearby villages have been abandoned,” he said.

Similarly, the Oniwo of Afin, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, has remained away from his domain after he and his son were abducted in December 2025 and later freed after the payment of a ransom reportedly exceeding N30m.

A palace source said the monarch was still receiving medical treatment following the traumatic experience in captivity and had been advised to avoid stressful conditions.

The insecurity has crippled economic and social activities across the affected areas, with farms deserted, schools shut and markets inactive as residents continue to seek refuge elsewhere.

In a recent incident, gunmen attacked Olayinka community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, abducting the traditional ruler, Oba Salman Olátúnjí Aweda, alongside his wife and another resident.

A resident, who identified himself as Tunde, described the attack as chaotic, saying the assailants stormed the palace in the early hours, shooting sporadically before whisking away the victims.

“It felt like a war. People were running for safety as the attackers fired shots. Before we realised what was happening, Kabiyesi had been taken,” he said.

Security sources disclosed that ransom demands in such cases often range from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of naira, with some starting as high as N100m before negotiations.

The pattern of attacks on traditional rulers has heightened fears across Kwara South, with many communities now grappling with displacement and a breakdown of local governance.