Armed attackers have abducted the traditional ruler of Olayinka community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, in the latest security breach to unsettle communities in the state’s southern axis. Local reports identified the monarch as Oba Salman Olátúnjí Aweda, while residents and officials said the attackers struck his residence in the early hours of Saturday and took him away into the bush.
Residents said the gunmen, said to be more than 10 in number, stormed the palace area around midnight, forced their way in and abducted the monarch along with another person in the house. One local account reported that the second abductee was later abandoned after telling the attackers he could no longer walk, though that detail has not been independently confirmed by security authorities. Reports have also differed on whether the monarch’s wife was among those initially seized, underscoring the still-fluid nature of the information emerging from the attack.
A ransom demand of N400 million has reportedly been made for the monarch’s release, according to residents cited in local media reports. There has been no public confirmation from police of the ransom figure, but the demand has deepened anxiety in the area, where residents fear a renewed wave of kidnappings and violent attacks.
The Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area, Abdulrasheed Femi Yusuf, visited the community on Saturday and confirmed the abduction. He said security agencies, forest guards and local vigilantes had intensified search operations in surrounding areas to secure the monarch’s release. Yusuf described the incident as deeply troubling and assured residents that steps were being taken in collaboration with security operatives.
The abduction has revived concerns over insecurity in Kwara South, especially in Ifelodun, where traditional rulers and rural communities have increasingly become targets. Arise News noted that another Kwara monarch, the Oniwo of Afin, was abducted earlier in 2026 and later released, while other incidents in the state have highlighted the spread of kidnapping beyond Nigeria’s traditional hotspots.
A local security advocacy group, Joint Security Watch Kwara South, condemned the latest abduction and called for urgent military action, describing it as another sign of the fragile security situation in the region. The group said the attack on Olayinka community showed that residents and local leaders remained vulnerable despite repeated assurances from authorities.
