Armed assailants have abducted a traditional ruler and his son following a violent late-night attack on a royal palace in Kwara State, located in north-central Nigeria, raising renewed concerns over worsening insecurity in rural communities across the region.
The victims are His Royal Highness, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, the Aniwo the First of Aafin community, situated in the Ile-Ire District of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, and one of his sons, Olaolu, who is currently participating in Nigeria’s mandatory National Youth Service Corps programme for university graduates.
Okay News reports that the incident occurred at about 8:00 pm on Wednesday, Wednesday, 31 December 2025, New Year’s Eve, when a group of about eight armed men reportedly stormed the monarch’s palace, firing gunshots repeatedly to force entry and instill fear among occupants.
A family source who was inside the palace during the attack told journalists via telephone on Thursday, Thursday, 01 January 2026, that the sudden invasion threw everyone into panic as the attackers began shooting while demanding access to the monarch and his wife.
“Around 8:00 pm, I noticed some strange movements outside and I immediately alerted those inside. We started locking all the doors and switching off inner lights, but when they realised what we were doing, they began shooting sporadically,” the source said.
According to the source, the gunmen forcefully broke into the palace after destroying doors with their weapons and demanded to see the monarch, popularly addressed as Kabiyesi in Yoruba tradition.
“They are about eight in number because I saw them from where I was hiding. They used their guns to break down the door, gained entrance and requested for the Kabiyesi, and he came out.
“They were asking for his wife too, but she has been hit with a bullet in the arm during their attempt to gain entrance,” the source said.
The attackers also abducted one of the monarch’s sons who emerged from hiding alongside the Olori, meaning the queen, in an apparent attempt to prevent further violence.
“We were about ten in the palace around that time to come spend the holiday with Kabiyesi, so everyone was hiding during the incident. One of the sons who was with the Olori came out to avoid casualties as they were shooting and breaking down doors,” the source explained.
The source further revealed that the leader of the attackers spoke fluent English and appeared to have specific knowledge of the royal household, repeatedly demanding to see only the monarch and his wife.
“The leader of the kidnappers spoke good English and the only thing they were asking is the Kabiyesi and when he came out, they were asking for his wife too.
“After they left, we quickly took the Olori to the hospital yesterday night,” the source added.
Local vigilante members were reportedly unable to repel the attackers due to limited manpower and inferior weaponry.
“The town vigilante could not do much because they were two that came out that time and they could not match the firepower of the assailants.
“We have not heard anything from them since they left with the Oba and his son. We are appealing to the government and security agencies to come to our aid,” the source said.
It was also disclosed that the incident was promptly reported to multiple security formations across the area on the night of the attack.
“When we left Aafin last night, we made a report at the Owu Isin Divisional Police and also when we got to Ijara Isin, we informed the police there too. The joint local security network at Ikosin was also informed, and also the Kabiyesi of Oke Aba,” the source said.
Reacting to the development, the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed that the command was aware of the abduction but said full details were still being gathered.
“I will get in touch with you immediately, once I have detailed information about the incident,” she said.
The abduction adds to a troubling pattern of violent crimes in Kwara State, particularly in rural local government areas such as Ifelodun, where communities have increasingly become targets of armed groups.
In late November 2025, gunmen abducted another traditional ruler, Alhaji Kamilu Salami, the Ojibara of Bayagan-Ile, from his farm within the same local government area. He was later released after weeks in captivity following community-led negotiations and the payment of ransom.
Security analysts have warned that repeated kidnappings of traditional rulers, attacks on worshippers, and assaults on rural leaders indicate an escalation of banditry and organized criminal activity along forest-border communities in Kwara State, especially near boundaries with Niger State and Kogi State.
Recent security data indicate multiple abductions and killings linked to armed groups operating across Ifelodun, Patigi, Edu, Ekiti, Isin, and other local government councils, intensifying calls for stronger security interventions by state and federal authorities.
