Kwara Monarch, Baale’s Wife Abducted as Fresh Wave of Kidnappings Hits Communities

Kwara Police Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo

Kwara Monarch, Baale’s Wife Abducted as Fresh Wave of Kidnappings Hits Communities

Suspected bandits strike across Kwara South in separate attacks, abducting traditional ruler, community leader’s wife, and demanding ₦20 million ransom for 23-year-old woman

A fresh wave of suspected bandit attacks has unsettled communities across Kwara State, with a traditional ruler, the first wife of a Baale, and several other residents reportedly abducted in separate incidents over the weekend. The attacks, which occurred between Friday night and Saturday, were recorded in communities across Kwara South, heightening fears among residents already grappling with repeated cases of kidnapping and insecurity.

Suspected bandits invaded Igbesi community in Oke-Onigbin town, Isin Local Government Area, at about 11 pm on Saturday, abducting the traditional ruler, Oba Moses Oyinloye Iwedunmoye I, the Kabiyesi Onigbesi of Igbesi land. Sources said the attackers took the monarch and several other residents to an undisclosed location. The abduction was confirmed by the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, who said security agencies had commenced efforts to locate and rescue the traditional ruler. Adekimi explained that the circumstances surrounding the incident were still being established, adding that the late hour of the attack made it difficult to immediately determine the number of attackers involved. However, the police commissioner clarified that no other person was kidnapped aside from the monarch, contradicting reports from local sources that others were also taken. “The narrative of attacks within the past 24 hours is far from the truth; nothing of such,” Adekimi said.

In a separate incident, the first wife of the Baale of Dabu community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, popularly known as Iya Ayoka, was also reportedly abducted by suspected bandits on Friday night. The chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area, Alhaji Femi Yusuf, confirmed the incident, saying security operatives were already on the trail of the abductors and working to rescue the woman. He, however, described the incident as an isolated occurrence, stressing that the security situation in the council had improved considerably in recent times.

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The Kwara South Development Forum (KSDF) has called for the immediate rescue of Iya Ayoka, saying residents are no longer willing to raise money to pay ransom to secure the freedom of kidnapped victims. In a statement issued on Sunday, the forum’s Secretary, Olasehinde Oluwatoba, on behalf of its Convener, Obashola Ridwan, declared: “We are not ready to pay a dime. The government needs to bring her back to us.” The group described the victim as a woman who has been supportive to many people in her area during the current hardship, when many markets have been shut down and nearby villages deserted. It added that repeated kidnappings had placed a heavy financial burden on residents, many of whom had previously contributed money to pay ransom for victims. “Many are begging for food. We have used all our money to pay ransom, so we are tired,” the forum said.

In a related development, kidnappers are demanding ₦20 million ransom for the release of Babatunde Fasilat, a 23-year-old woman abducted from the Wande community in Ifelodun Local Government Area on July 15. According to the KSDF, armed men invaded her residence, shot her father while he attempted to resist the abductors, and took the woman away. A source familiar with the incident, who spoke anonymously, said four gunmen invaded the community and went into Fasilat’s room after shooting her father. The KSDF alleged that the abductors have access to her TikTok account and are using it to publish posts and make calls while communicating with her family about the ransom. “Her father lost consciousness while the bullet penetrated through his body and came out from the other side. He was hospitalised and is now battling with his health while also looking for ways to secure the release of his daughter,” the group said.

A search and rescue mission has been launched by a combined team of soldiers, police, local vigilantes, hunters and members of Sunday Igboho’s Iru-Ekun group to rescue the monarch. The operation comes amid heightened security concerns in Kwara State, following a series of kidnappings and other violent crimes recorded in some communities. The fresh attacks have occurred despite the recent establishment of a Nigerian Army battalion in Omu-Aran town, Irepodun Local Government Area, as part of efforts to strengthen security in the state. The deployment followed growing concerns over kidnapping, banditry, and other criminalities in the region.

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The Kwara State Police Command has assured residents of sustained intelligence-led operations against criminal elements across the state. Commissioner of Police Ojo Adekimi, while acknowledging the strategic policing direction of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, said the command would continue to deploy its available lawful intelligence and operational resources to protect residents. “There will be no respite in the ongoing offensive against criminal elements,” the CP said. In a recent breakthrough, police operatives arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping gang, Sanda Aliyu, who was allegedly attempting to purchase an AK-47 rifle for N1.6 million in Kaiama Local Government Area. Aliyu reportedly admitted during interrogation that he wanted to acquire the firearm to “rise to the position of a ‘Boss’ within his current kidnapping gang” and ultimately establish his own criminal gang.

The KSDF called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Federal Government and security agencies to take urgent steps to rescue all abducted victims in Kwara South and put an end to insecurity in the region. The forum urged security agencies to intensify operations in forests and other suspected hideouts of the armed groups, while calling for stronger intervention from both the state and Federal Governments. The group also accused the state government of attempting to downplay the security situation in Kwara South. “And the government doesn’t want us to publicise the attacks and kidnappings, while the insecurity in our region has not stopped,” the forum said.