Kwara State kidnapping: Monarch, Baale’s wife abducted as kidnappers demand N20m for another victim

• A traditional ruler and the first wife of a Baale have been abducted in separate attacks in Kwara State, deepening concerns over renewed insecurity in the state. 

• Oba Moses Iwedunmoye I, the Onigbesi of Igbesi, was abducted after suspected bandits invaded Igbesi in Isin LGA on Saturday night, August 22.

• The ₦20 million ransom demand concerns a separate victim, 23-year-old Babatunde Fasilat, who was abducted from Wande community; her kidnappers have reportedly used her TikTok account to communicate and make ransom demands. 

Kwara State is facing another wave of kidnappings, with suspected bandits abducting a traditional ruler, the first wife of a Baale and several other residents in separate attacks across the state.

The latest incidents, which occurred between Friday night and Saturday, have renewed concerns about the safety of communities in Kwara South, where residents have reported repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months. 

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In Dabu community, Ifelodun Local Government Area, suspected bandits reportedly invaded the area on Friday night and abducted Iya Ayoka, the first wife of the Baale of Dabu.

The Kwara South Development Forum (KSDF) has called for her immediate rescue, saying residents are increasingly frustrated by repeated kidnappings and are no longer willing to keep raising money to pay ransom for victims.

The group also expressed concern that continued attacks could force residents to abandon their communities if authorities do not take urgent action.

It was alleged that previous appeals to the Ifelodun Local Government chairman over the security situation had not produced the desired results.

Barely a day later, another attack was reported in Igbesi community, within Oke-Onigbin in Isin Local Government Area, where gunmen abducted the traditional ruler, Oba Moses Iwedunmoye I, the Onigbesi of Igbesi Land.

The attackers reportedly invaded the community at about 11 p.m. on Saturday, firing shots before taking the monarch away. 

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While a community source said other residents were also abducted, Kwara State Commissioner of Police Ojo Adekimi confirmed the monarch's abduction but said only the traditional ruler had been confirmed kidnapped. Security efforts were subsequently launched to locate and rescue him. 

The latest incidents are not the only kidnapping cases troubling Kwara South.

The KSDF has also raised concerns about 23-year-old Babatunde Fasilat, who remains in captivity after being abducted from Wande community in Ifelodun. Her father was reportedly shot when he tried to resist the attackers.

According to the forum, Fasilat's abductors are demanding ₦20 million for her release. They have also reportedly gained access to her TikTok account, which they allegedly use to make posts, place calls and communicate with her family over the ransom.

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The attacks have also extended beyond Kwara South. In Kwara North, gunmen reportedly invaded a filling station in Kokona village, also known as Yana Tsonga, in the Tsaragi district of Edu Local Government Area, where two people were abducted. 

One victim was reportedly a final-year student who had gone to the station to celebrate her sign-out programme. 

With multiple communities affected within a short period, residents are urging security agencies to intensify operations and ensure those still in captivity are rescued.