No fewer than 30 traditional rulers across the southern area of Kwara State have fled their palaces following a sustained wave of kidnappings, killings and violent attacks, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

Our correspondents gathered from two credible community leaders that the affected monarchs were seeking refuge in urban centres, including Ilorin, Osogbo, Offa, and Lagos.

Findings show that some of the affected traditional rulers are from Omugo, Afin, Oreke, Oreke Oke-Igbo, Olohuntele, Alabe, Ganmu Ailehri, Ologanmo, and Igbo Agbon communities.

While some have been away from their domains for months, others have been out for nearly a year.

Their displacement, triggered by repeated attacks by armed groups, has created a leadership vacuum in their communities.

A resident of Omugo community, Wale Olasunkanmi, said his traditional ruler, known locally as Eesa, fled due to fear of abduction.

He said, “In the past, our traditional rulers were always around. They lived among us and provided leadership during crises. But now, they don’t stay here anymore. They only come occasionally for meetings or special occasions and leave immediately.

“When attacks became frequent, it was no longer safe for them to remain in the palace. Even ordinary residents are afraid, so you can imagine what it means for a king who is always a target.”

Olasunkanmi recalled that a major attack on the community in March 2026 marked a turning point.

“After the bandits attacked the church on March 22 and abducted about eight people, many families started leaving. The fear was too much. People abandoned their homes overnight,” he said.

He added that while there had been a slight improvement in security in recent weeks, the absence of traditional rulers continued to affect coordination and decision-making.

“Even as some people are trying to return, there is no strong leadership on the ground. That makes it difficult to rebuild confidence,” he stated.

According to him, Omugo is part of the larger Oro-Ago community, which comprises about 15 towns, including Ajegunle, Iragbon, Ago, Oke Ayin, Oyate, and Oke Daba, all of which have experienced varying degrees of attacks.

Further findings by Saturday PUNCH showed that Oreke and Oreke Oke-Igbo communities have been largely deserted since June 2025 following repeated bandit incursions.

The situation escalated after an attack on a marble mining site near Oreke-Okeigbo on June 4, 2025, where two police officers, Assistant Superintendent Haruna Watsai and Inspector Tukur Ogah, were killed.

A palace worker, Samuel Afolayan, said the attacks marked the beginning of mass displacement.

“Initially, they were just stealing food and livestock. But later, they started kidnapping and killing people. That was when everyone began to leave.

“As I speak to you, I have not been to Oreke since June last year. The king is not there, the palace is empty, and the entire community is deserted. Even neighbouring villages along that axis have been abandoned,” he stated.

Afolayan described the area as “completely isolated,” adding that basic social and economic activities had collapsed.

Similarly, the Oniwo of Afin, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, has not returned to his domain since he was abducted alongside his son on New Year’s Eve.

Gunmen invaded his residence in December 2025 and kidnapped the monarch and his son, who is a corps member.

While the son was released after about 21 days, the monarch regained his freedom after a ransom reportedly exceeding N30m was paid.

A palace source said the monarch was still undergoing treatment.

“Kabiyesi went through a very traumatic experience. He spent almost a month in captivity under harsh conditions. Given his age, it affected him seriously,” the source said.

“Since his release, he has been receiving medical attention. Doctors advised that he should rest and avoid stressful situations. That is why he has not returned to the community.”

Across the affected communities, the impact of the attacks has been devastating.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that farms had been abandoned, schools shut down, and markets rendered inactive as residents fled to safer locations.

The latest gunmen attack occurred in Olayinka community in Ifelodun LGA, where armed men stormed the palace of the monarch, Oba Salman Olátúnjí Aweda, in the early hours of Saturday and abducted him alongside his wife and another resident.

Police authorities later confirmed the arrest of 42 suspected illegal miners in connection with the abduction, while sources disclosed that the kidnappers demanded about N400m ransom.

A resident, who identified himself simply as Tunde, recounted the attack.

“It was like a war scene,” he said.

“They came with guns and started shooting. People were running in different directions. Before we knew what was happening, Kabiyesi had been taken.”

Tunde added that the attackers appeared to have prior knowledge of activities in the palace.

“Earlier that day, some miners came to pay royalties to the king. So, when the attackers came at night, they demanded the money. Kabiyesi gave it to them, but they still took him away. After that incident, everyone fled. Nobody wants to stay there again,” he said.

Traditional rulers killed by gunmen

Beyond Olayinka community, a disturbing pattern has emerged across Kwara South, with traditional rulers increasingly becoming targets.

In September 2025, the Baale of Ogbayo in Oke-Ode was killed in his palace after gunmen invaded the community at dawn.

Earlier, in February 2024, the Olukoro of Koro-Ekiti, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole, was killed in his palace, while his wife and another person were abducted.

Sources said the kidnappers initially demanded N100m, which was later reduced to N40m.

In November 2025, the Ojibara of Bayagan-Ile, Oba Kamilu Salami, was abducted on his farm and released after about 25 days in captivity following the payment of ransom.

According to findings, ransom demands in recent cases have ranged between N40m and N400m.

A source involved in one of the negotiations said, “They usually start with outrageous figures, sometimes over N100m. After negotiations, it may come down, but it is still a huge burden.

“In many cases, families have to sell properties or borrow money to secure the release of their loved ones.”

‘Development disturbing’

The Coordinator of the Joint Security Watch in Kwara South, Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, said the signs of mass displacement were long ignored.

“There was a time we raised the alarm that communities were being deserted, but people did not take it seriously. The development is really troubling and disturbing” he said.

“Today, more than 28 communities with traditional rulers in Ifelodun have been abandoned. Places like Olayinka, Oro-Ago, Omugo, Ahun, Oke-Oyan, Owa-Kajola, Owa-Onire, and Oba have become ghost towns. Farms are abandoned, schools shut, markets dead. The reality we warned about has become undeniable,” he stated.

Residents said the crisis had severely disrupted agriculture and worsened food insecurity.

A trader from Oro-Ago, Bose Adeyemi, said she had relocated to Ilorin.

“I am a yam seller, but I cannot go back home. Nobody wants to farm anymore because it is too dangerous,” she said.

A retired civil servant, Janet Adebisi, said she had abandoned her investments.

“I used my gratuity to start farming, but I cannot even visit the farm now. My life is more important than any investment,” she said.

Traditional council under scrutiny

The wave of attacks has put the Kwara State Traditional Council under scrutiny, with many questioning its response to the crisis.

While sources within the council confirmed that meetings had been held with government officials and security agencies, critics say the response has not been visible enough.

A community leader in Ekiti LGA, Adebayo Ojo, said, “Our royal fathers must speak with one voice. People expect leadership at a time like this.”

However, a palace source who did not want to be named said engagements were ongoing behind the scenes.

“These issues are being discussed. The traditional rulers are engaging government and security agencies, but not everything can be made public,” the source said.

The crisis has also sparked debate over the role of traditional and spiritual methods in safeguarding communities.

A socio-political advocate in Kwara State, Abdul-Rahoof Bello-Labelabe, raised concerns over what he described as the worsening security situation in Kwara South.

He warned that residents were increasingly vulnerable to attacks and abductions across several communities.

Bello-Labelabe, who identified himself as the Advocate of Igbomina Liberty and Northern Yoruba Nationality, said there had been no meaningful improvement in security, particularly in Ifelodun LGA.

He disclosed that a wave of kidnappings recorded between Wednesday and Thursday affected multiple communities, leaving scores of residents abducted.

He also referenced the abduction of a traditional ruler in Olayinka community alongside his wife, noting that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom running into millions of naira.

The advocate claimed that many traditional rulers no longer resided in their domains due to safety concerns.

“Although not all traditional rulers have abandoned their communities, a significant number of them no longer live there. They only visit when necessary and leave immediately. Very few have the courage to remain. If any of them is still residing in their domain, let them come forward and state it openly,” he said.

Bello blamed abandonment of traditional practices.

“In the olden days, no one dared to touch a king. Today, our monarchs have abandoned traditional ways of protection.

“Our kings have their share of the blame. They harbour these bandits and criminals; they give them land; they know them, they cannot pretend they do not know them.

“They allow aliens to intermarry with the natives; they create markets for them; they install Seriki for them on Yoruba land. If security is made their responsibility, they will take it seriously,” he added.

The community leader linked the worsening insecurity to illegal mining activities and weak local structures.

Traditional rulers abandoned indigenous protection — Monarch

The monarch of Osi community in Akure North LGA, Oba David Olajide, also advised his colleagues to adopt measures to protect themselves and their subjects against criminal attacks.

Olajide, who once survived a bandit attack in his community, also lamented that some rulers had abandoned the traditions of their communities.

He said, “The issue of insecurity in the country is getting worse to the extent that bandits are attacking obas, but we traditional rulers are not resting on our oars. For instance, in my local government here, we are taking proactive measures both traditional and modern, but these are matters we can only discuss in the media cautiously because they are security issues.

“Another issue is that some obas are wrongly chosen in their communities. It is very absurd to hear that bandits are killing monarchs. Bandits cannot kill a real monarch; they cannot even go near where they are, let alone attack them. In the olden days, warriors used to be made obas, so how can you attack a warrior? It is not possible.

“But the problem we are having is that some obas were not chosen the way they should be chosen. They were selected based on connections in government or because they have money. Such persons would not take the tradition of the community seriously. Nowadays, we are having politicians as obas, and people who don’t understand tradition as obas. These are the problems.

“So, obas too need to reduce their flamboyant lifestyle. They should not be seen everywhere, at every ceremony, spraying money or moving in convoy. We obas should understand the issue of insecurity nowadays and reduce all these lifestyles.”

However, the monarch urged the government and security agencies to support efforts aimed at fighting crime and criminality in their domains.

Meanwhile, local vigilante groups say they are struggling to contain the situation due to poor equipment and limited support.

A vigilante member in Ifelodun, who identified himself as Musa, said armed groups had taken over forests in the area.

“We know these forests, but they have better weapons. Sometimes, before help comes, they are gone.

“Even with our local guns, we are always facing them without fear, but you know their superior firepower always gives them the upper hand,” he said.

He, however, called for stronger collaboration between vigilantes and formal security agencies, including better funding and equipment.

The Chairman of the Igbomina Professional Association, Bode Iranloye, described the situation as alarming.

“This menace has destroyed the peaceful nature of our communities. It has affected agriculture, commerce, and communal life,” he said.

Iranloye recommended improved intelligence gathering, deployment of surveillance technology, and stricter regulation of illegal mining activities.

A security analyst, Sadiq Lawal, said the trend was concerning.

He said, “When criminals begin to target traditional rulers, it is a clear indication that authority structures have collapsed. In many African societies, kings are seen as sacred and untouchable. Once they become targets, it means the criminals are no longer afraid of consequence.”