Ilorin, Nigeria — Armed bandits on Friday, December 26, 2025, walked unchallenged into the palace of His Royal Majesty Oba David Adedumoye, the Elerin of Adanla Irese in Igbaja District, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, and kidnapped seven of his family members, a local vigilante leader has confirmed.
The Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, Mr Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, told PUNCH that about 20 armed bandits entered Adanla community at around 6:30 pm on Boxing Day and made a direct assault on the monarch’s palace. The bandits reportedly ransacked the compound for nearly an hour, seizing valuables and food items prepared for festivities.
Oyin-Zubair reported that seven people were taken during the raid and two others were wounded. “As of today (Wednesday, 31st December, 2025), their whereabouts are unknown,” he said, noting that the abductors had contacted the monarch and demanded a N300 million ransom for the captives’ release.
According to the vigilante leader, the bandits marched into the village on foot without any vehicles and entered the palace. Eyewitnesses said the assailants asked for the monarch and his queen but found them absent. Oba Adedumoye had left for Ilorin earlier on the day of the attack and learned of the abduction upon his return.
Security forces, including soldiers and local vigilantes, responded but the attackers had departed by the time they arrived at the scene. Since the incident, the combined rescue teams have been conducting operations in the surrounding forests, which are described as thick and difficult to navigate, hindering efforts to locate the bandits.
The attack reflects a broader pattern of insecurity in parts of Kwara State. Residents and security sources have reported similar kidnappings and raids in rural communities, where bandits exploit dense vegetation and unguarded roads. A prior abduction in the area involved a local woman who was held for a month before a N5 million ransom was paid.
Local security advocates say the apparent precision of the palace attack suggests possible insider knowledge, citing an assailant’s ability to identify specific individuals. Oyin-Zubair stressed that the community’s terrain complicates security operations and has called for enhanced collaboration between vigilante networks and organised security agencies to improve response capabilities.
The incident has prompted renewed appeals to government authorities for strengthened security measures in rural Kwara. As forests dry during the dry season, vigilante leaders suggest joint operations with aerial surveillance could aid in dislodging criminal elements from their hideouts.
No official statement has yet been released by the Kwara State Government or the Nigeria Police Force regarding the kidnappings or ransom negotiations at the time of publication.
