Suspected bandits have again struck in Kwara State, storming a royal palace in Olayinka community, Ifelodun Local Government Area, and abducting a traditional ruler, his wife, and another resident during a late-night raid
The attackers were said to have invaded the palace around 1:40 a.m. on Saturday, firing gunshots into the air to scare residents before whisking the victims away to an unknown destination.
A community source described the invasion as terrifying, saying there was no resistance due to the heavy weapons carried by the gunmen.
“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 resident confirmed that the monarch’s wife and one other person were also taken during the attack, noting that the traditional ruler was among those recently elevated and installed by the Kwara State Government earlier this year.
The incident has heightened tension in the area, coming amid a growing pattern of abductions targeting traditional rulers in Kwara South.
It is the third reported case of a monarch being kidnapped in the region within a year. In 2025, two traditional rulers were also abducted by suspected bandits and only regained their freedom after ransom was reportedly paid.
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