Suspected bandits have abducted a traditional ruler, his wife, and another individual after attacking a palace in Olayinka community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State in the early hours of Saturday.

The gunmen reportedly stormed the palace around 1:40am, firing sporadically before whisking the monarch away to an unknown destination, in what residents described as a terrifying overnight raid.

How the attack happened

Sources said the attackers arrived heavily armed and met little resistance as panic spread across the palace.

“They came around 1:40am and started shooting. Everyone was scared. They took the monarch, his wife, and another person,” a source disclosed.

The abducted monarch was said to have been recently installed by the state government, making the incident even more shocking within the community.

Rising concern in Kwara South

The latest abduction marks the third case involving a traditional ruler in Kwara South within a year, raising fresh concerns about security in the area.

In 2025, two monarchs in the region were kidnapped by suspected bandits and later released after ransom payments were reportedly made.

Residents say the repeated attacks have heightened fear, with calls growing for stronger security presence across affected communities.