Kwara monarchs flee domains over kidnap threats

Most traditional rulers in Ifelodun Local Government of Kwara State have fled their communities for fear of being kidnapped by gunmen.

The Guardian Newspaper gathered that some communities in the local government have turned into ghost towns as residents have fled to safer areas outside the council and the state.

Kidnappers in the area now address letters to the monarchs, informing them of when they would strike in their domain.

Confirming the development, the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Muhammad Yahya, disclosed that the fearless Iyaloja of Oko town had so far spent over two weeks with kidnappers.

He added that Oko town had since the kidnapping of its Iyaloja been in fear and agony as residents now lock up and sleep at 6 PM.

According to him, a monarch, the Olora of Ora town, had since taken refuge in Lagos when he got information that he had become the target of kidnappers.

“It took us a great deal of effort to convince and bring him back home from Lagos,” Oba Alebiosu disclosed.

Speaking in a viral video recorded in his palace while hosting the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Muyideen Aliyu, at a meeting with traditional rulers recently, the Kabiesi appealed to the governor to rescue the entire state, especially Ifelodun LGA, from the clutches of bandits that have thrashed the area’s security networks.

He stated that the situations in Omu-Aran, Oko, Ora, and Omupo, among others, have been pathetic.

“I am frankly and sincerely telling you (SSA to the governor) that most of the Kabiyesi (Monarchs) in Ifelodun live in Ilorin; most of them can’t stay at home again. They have left home for their dear lives.

“It took us serious pleading to convince the Olora to return home from Lagos because he knew clearly he was the next target of kidnappers,” Olupo said.

Appealing to the governor, he said: “I make bold to say that traditional institutions are working hard. In fact, we have been tasking ourselves to maintain and sustain security in our domains, with first-class contributing N250,000; second-class paying N150,000, and third-class paying N100,000.

“There’s no way we as a people can fight this cause without government support because these people (bandits) in the bush go about with more sophisticated weapons,” he disclosed.

Consequently, he enjoined the state government to encourage and strengthen the local vigilante to work, regretting that: “Sometimes when they run into the law, they are often abandoned to their fate.

“Sincerely speaking, as a people of Igbomina land, we are not happy, and we can’t hide it any longer; we appeal to the governor because we don’t wish for the repetition of what happened to late Onikoro (he was killed by bandits in his palace).”

He lamented that farmers have abandoned their farms for fear of being kidnapped by the bandits.