Suspected bandits have kidnapped the first wife of the Baale of Dabu in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, identified as Iya Ayoka.
In a similar development, armed bandits have abducted the King of Igbesi, a community in Oke-Onigbin, Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State, Oba Moses Iwedunmoye I.
The Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, confirmed the abduction, while a palace source said the monarch was abducted alongside some other residents of the community during the attack.
The bandits reportedly invaded Igbesi at about 11:00 p.m. on Saturday and abducted the monarch.
However, Adekimi said only the traditional ruler was kidnapped.
Also, kidnappers are demanding N20 million in ransom for the release of Fasilat Babatunde, a 23-year-old woman abducted from a nearby community.
Iya Ayoka was reportedly abducted on Friday night, according to the Kwara South Development Forum (KSDF).
The development comes amid renewed concerns over insecurity in Kwara South, where communities have reported sporadic kidnappings and armed attacks despite recently increased security in the area.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Sokoto State Governor, Col. Ahmed Usman (rtd.), has appealed to political leaders, traditional institutions, religious leaders and residents to close ranks in the fight against banditry, insisting that insecurity should not be reduced to partisan politics.
Usman’s appeal was contained in a statement yesterday in reaction to comments by some opposition politicians over the insecurity in Sokoto State.
In a statement yesterday by the KSDF Secretary, Olasehinde Oluwatoba, the group called on the Federal and Kwara State governments to urgently secure the release of Ayoka and other victims in captivity.
The forum also raised concerns over Babatunde’s continued captivity since the 23-year-old woman’s abduction from the Wande community in Ifelodun Local Government Area on July 15 by armed men who invaded her residence.
KSDF said the abductors had access to her TikTok account and were using it to publish posts and make calls while communicating with her family about the ransom.
Meanwhile, according to the Sokoto governor’s aide, bandits do not distinguish between members of political parties before carrying out attacks, noting that their victims are ordinary citizens irrespective of political affiliation.
He stressed that the fight against insecurity required collective responsibility, urging political actors to channel their contributions towards promoting peace and protecting lives rather than politicising the security challenges facing the state.
Usman further urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information to assist ongoing operations, warning against actions that could undermine efforts to restore peace.
