From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
Fresh concerns over rising insecurity have gripped parts of Kwara State, following the abduction of a traditional ruler.
The monarch, Oba Salman Olátúnjí Aweda of Olayinka community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, was reportedly abducted in the early hours of Saturday by heavily armed men who invaded his palace and demanded a ransom of ₦400 million.
Residents disclosed that the attackers, numbering over 10, stormed the palace around midnight, forcibly gained entry and whisked the monarch away alongside another individual. The second victim was later released after pleading inability to continue the journey barefoot.
According to locals, the gunmen tied the victim to a tree before proceeding into the bush with the monarch, a development that has heightened anxiety across the community and surrounding areas.
Related News
Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area, Abdulrasheed Femi Yusuf, who visited the palace, assured residents that urgent steps were being taken to secure the monarch’s release.
“We are deeply concerned about this incident, and we are taking swift and decisive action in collaboration with security agencies,” Yusuf said, noting that security personnel and local vigilantes had intensified search operations.
The incident has sparked fears among residents of a possible resurgence of criminal activities in Kwara South.
The latest wave of attacks highlights the widening scope of insecurity across Nigeria, now affecting communities, highways and waterways alike, with citizens increasingly demanding stronger action from authorities.
