Tension as Terrorists Abduct Traditional Ruler, Others During Fresh Attack

Tension as Terrorists Abduct Traditional Ruler, Others During Fresh Attack

  • Terrorists stormed Igbesi community in Kwara State's Isin LGA late Saturday night and seized the community's monarch
  • Kwara State Commissioner of Police Ojo Adekimi confirmed the abduction of Oba Moses Oyinloye Iwedunmoye I
  • Police said efforts were underway to rescue the traditional ruler, whose whereabouts remained unknown

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues

Kwara State - Gunmen believed to be terrorists have kidnapped the traditional ruler of Igbesi community, Oba Moses Oyinloye Iwedunmoye I, the Kabiyesi Onigbesi of Igbesi land, in the Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, confirmed the abduction on Sunday, August 23, 2026, following a late-night raid on the community.

According to Vanguard, a local source said the attackers descended on the sleepy community at around 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026, and took the monarch to an unknown location.

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The source said the number of victims and the whereabouts of the abducted ruler were still unclear at the time the report was filed.

Where Igbesi Is located

Igbesi is a community within Oke-Onigbin town in the Isin Local Government Area, located in Kwara South senatorial district.

The town is the birthplace of the late former Governor of Kwara State and former Minister of Communications, Chief Cornelius Adebayo.

Police respond to terrorist attack

Commissioner of Police Adekimi confirmed the monarch's kidnapping but pushed back on reports that other residents had been taken alongside him.

"The narrative of attacks within the past 24 hours is far from the truth; nothing of such,"

He added that security operatives were working urgently to locate and rescue the royal father.

The police boss said rescue efforts were "in top gear," though he gave no timeline or further details on the operation.

Bandits kidnap monarch, shoot wife

Recall that a traditional ruler, Adeniyi Adelana, was kidnapped by armed bandits in Ondo State during a late-night attack.

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The gunmen shot the monarch's wife, who is receiving medical treatment after the assault by the bandits.

The police have launched a search-and-rescue operation to locate the kidnapped ruler and ensure community safety.

Powerful Nigerian monarch declared dead in captivity

Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that a traditional ruler in Kwara State died despite his family paying a N18 million ransom.

The tragic incident raised alarm over increasing kidnappings of traditional leaders in Nigeria's North Central region.

Kwara security forces initiate a manhunt for kidnappers following the monarch's tragic death.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Adekunle Dada avatar

Adekunle Dada (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Adekunle Dada is a trained journalist with over 8 years of working experience. He is also a Politics/Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He holds a B.Sc. in Mass Communication from Lagos State University, Ojo. Adekunle previously worked at PM News, The Sun, and Within Nigeria, where he expressed his journalistic skills with well-researched articles and features. In 2024, Adekunle obtained a certificate in advanced digital reporting from the Google News Initiative. He can be reached via adekunle.dada@corp.legit.ng.