By Charles Chijioke
Tension has gripped residents of Olayinka community in Ifelodun Local Government Area after suspected bandits launched a daring midnight attack on a royal palace, abducting a traditional ruler, his wife, and another individual.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the armed assailants stormed the palace at about 1:40am on Saturday, firing sporadically before whisking away the royal father to an unknown destination.
“Yes. At Olayinka at about 1am. His wife and one other were also abducted. The Monarch is one of the recently graded.”
A local source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, said,
“The bandits invaded the palace around 1:40 a.m. on Saturday. They came heavily armed and took the monarch away without resistance because everyone was terrified.”
The abducted monarch was said to have been recently elevated and officially installed by the Kwara State Government earlier this year, making the incident even more shocking to residents.
Afrilensnews gathered that this latest abduction marks the third case of a traditional ruler being kidnapped in Kwara South within a year. In 2025, two monarchs in the region were abducted by suspected bandits and were only released after ransom payments were made.
Another source confirmed the development, saying, “This is becoming a disturbing trend. Just last year, two monarchs were kidnapped in this same region, and now it has happened again. People are living in fear.”
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, and efforts to rescue the abducted monarch are said to be ongoing.
Residents of the community have called on the government and security operatives to urgently address the growing insecurity in the area, warning that traditional institutions are increasingly becoming targets of criminal elements.
On December 24, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that the Ojibara of Bayagan Ile in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Kamilu Salami, who was abducted by bandits 25 days earlier, regained his freedom.
His return triggered widespread jubilation in the community, as residents trooped to the palace to welcome him and congratulate the monarch and his family on his safe return. Confirming the development, the community’s spokesperson, Ayinla Lawal, said the monarch was released after a substantial ransom was paid to the abductors in two instalments. “I’m happy to inform you that our monarch has been released. He was released on Tuesday night,” Lawal said.
On February 5, 2026, SaharaReporters also reported that the Oniwo of Afin, Oba Simeon Olanipekun, regained his freedom after being abducted alongside his son in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
According to a source, the traditional ruler was released after a ransom was paid to the kidnappers, who had held him in captivity for several days, though the exact amount was not disclosed.
