No fewer than 30 traditional rulers across southern Kwara State have reportedly fled their palaces following a wave of kidnappings, killings and violent attacks that have forced entire communities to empty out.
Findings indicate that many of the displaced monarchs have taken refuge in safer urban centres such as Ilorin, Osogbo, Offa and Lagos, leaving a leadership vacuum in affected rural communities.
Communities impacted include Omugo, Afin, Oreke, Oreke Oke-Igbo, Olohuntele, Alabe, Ganmu Ailehri, Ologanmo and Igbo Agbon, where repeated attacks by armed groups have driven both residents and traditional authorities away.
A resident of Omugo, Wale Olasunkanmi, said the exodus of monarchs followed escalating insecurity, particularly after a March 22, 2026 attack on a church where about eight people were abducted. He noted that the absence of traditional rulers has weakened local coordination and slowed recovery efforts.
Investigations revealed that some communities, including Oreke and Oreke Oke-Igbo, have been largely deserted since mid-2025 after sustained bandit attacks. A June 2025 assault near a marble mining site reportedly left two police officers dead, marking a turning point that triggered mass displacement.
In another case, the Oniwo of Afin, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, has yet to return to his domain after being abducted alongside his son in December 2025. He was released after nearly a month in captivity following the payment of a ransom reportedly exceeding ₦30 million and is said to be undergoing medical treatment.
The security situation further deteriorated with a recent attack in Olayinka community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, where gunmen abducted the monarch, Oba Salman Olátúnjí Aweda, his wife and another resident. Authorities later arrested 42 suspected illegal miners in connection with the incident, while sources said kidnappers demanded about ₦400 million.
Residents described the attacks as devastating, with farms abandoned, schools shut and markets inactive. Many have fled to safer areas, worsening food insecurity and economic hardship.
Security concerns have also intensified following earlier killings of traditional rulers, including the Baale of Ogbayo in Oke-Ode in September 2025 and the Olukoro of Koro-Ekiti, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole, in February 2024.
The Coordinator of the Joint Security Watch in Kwara South, Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, said the warning signs had long been ignored, noting that more than 28 communities in Ifelodun alone had effectively become ghost towns.
Local leaders and analysts say the crisis has exposed weaknesses in rural security structures, with vigilante groups struggling against better-armed attackers and illegal mining activities contributing to instability.
A security analyst, Sadiq Lawal, warned that the targeting of traditional rulers signals a deeper breakdown of authority, noting that monarchs are traditionally regarded as sacred and untouchable in many communities.
Amid the crisis, calls have intensified for stronger collaboration between security agencies and local vigilantes, improved intelligence gathering, and stricter regulation of illegal mining operations to restore safety and confidence in the affected areas.
