Fear has forced at least 30 traditional rulers in southern Kwara State to abandon their palaces as repeated kidnappings and armed attacks continue to spread across rural communities.
Sources in affected areas say many monarchs have relocated to safer cities such as Ilorin, Osogbo, Offa, and Lagos. While some have been away for several months, others have stayed out of their domains for close to a year due to worsening insecurity.
Communities such as Omugo, Afin, Oreke, Oreke Oke-Igbo, Alabe, and others in Kwara South have been among the worst hit, with residents and leaders fleeing following repeated raids by armed groups. The situation has left many villages without active traditional leadership.
In several cases, attacks on homes, places of worship, and farmlands triggered mass displacement.
Residents say monarchs who once lived among their people now only visit occasionally for important meetings before leaving again for safety.
Some communities in the Oro-Ago axis are also reported to have been largely deserted after sustained attacks, including violent incidents linked to mining areas and clashes that led to loss of lives.
One palace worker from a deserted community said the wave of violence began with theft and gradually escalated into kidnappings and killings, forcing entire settlements to empty out.
Recent incidents have further worsened the situation. In one attack in Ifelodun Local Government Area, armed men invaded a palace, abducting a traditional ruler alongside his wife and another resident. A ransom demand was reportedly made before the attackers fled.
Other monarchs across Kwara South have also been victims of abductions in recent years, with some released after ransom payments running into tens of millions of naira. In one case, a ruler has not returned to his community due to health complications after his release.
The crisis has had severe consequences on daily life. Farms have been abandoned, schools shut down, and local markets have collapsed as residents move to safer locations.
Security observers say the displacement of traditional rulers has created a leadership vacuum in many communities, weakening coordination and local governance at a time when it is most needed.
Local vigilante groups say they are struggling to contain the violence due to poor equipment and limited support, while residents continue to call for stronger government intervention to restore peace and stability in the region.
