•Illustration of bandits invading a palace
Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, Mr Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, talks about the invasion of the palace of the monarch of Adanla area in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State by bandits, reports Saturday PUNCH.
Excerpts:
What do you know about the kidnap incident by bandits in Adanla community in Kwara State on Boxing Day?
The incident happened about 6:30 pm on Friday, December 26, 2025. About 20 bandits invaded Adanla community and went straight to the monarch’s palace. It was the palace of His Royal Majesty Oba David Adedumoye, the Elerin of Adanla Irese in Igbaja District under Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The bandits raided and ransacked the palace for almost an hour. There was no security. They abducted royal family members and also carted away their phones and other valuable items.
They even carried some pots used in the palace for the Christmas Day ceremony, which took place the previous day, because it was a festive season. There was supposed to be another ceremony somewhere on Saturday, so the bandits seized all the food items.
How many people were kidnapped?
They kidnapped seven people and injured two people. As of today (Wednesday, 31st December, 2025), their whereabouts are unknown. Recently, they (bandits) demanded a ransom of N300m. They contacted the monarch himself.
What means of transport did they use to reach the palace?
They didn’t use any vehicles. They boldly marched into the village and made their entry into the palace. Let me say nobody saw them with any vehicle.
Where was the monarch when the bandits invaded the palace?
He was not around; he had left for Ilorin that same day, I guess. In fact, the bandits were asking for the monarch when they entered. According to the eyewitnesses, the bandits asked for the king and his queen, but the king was not around. He was around on Christmas Day.
He (the king) left to collect something in Ilorin on Boxing Day and returned. It was when he came back that he learnt that some members of his family had been kidnapped by bandits. He left the palace around 4 pm, and the incident happened at about 6:30 pm. They (bandits) were there at the palace till about 7:30 pm before they got a rescue team.
Which rescue team intervened?
The soldiers and the local vigilantes came, but the assailants had gone before they arrived. Since that day, the rescue team has been combing the bush. But they have not captured the bandits.
Has anything of this nature happened before?
Yes, but not at the palace. A woman was kidnapped at Oniyangi farms in the Adanla area. The woman sold charcoal.
She spent one month inside the bandits’ den before she was released after a ransom of N5m was paid. The woman was released just three days ago.
Has anyone tried to identify the bandits when they invaded the palace?
Well, this particular incident was very suspicious. It was suspicious because it appeared there was an insider’s job. The reason I say this is that the palace people noticed that one of the bandits could pinpoint certain people. He was ordering his gang members to leave certain people and abduct others.
He was the one asking, ‘Where is kabiyesi? Where is Olori?’ He wore a mask, while the rest did not wear masks. He gave the impression that he must be an indigene of that community. He spoke Yoruba and Fulani, but his Yoruba was not fluent.
More than 10 bandits entered; eight were somewhere, and two were giving orders outside.
What are the preventive measures to curb this prevailing incident?
Well, federal, state and local governments have been trying to curb insecurity in various states. There have been several efforts in training and equipping forest guards.
Also, the government embarked on the deployment of soldiers, empowerment of local vigilantes, and constant assistance to mobilise the police to either patrol or comb the forest and roads. I believe those were preventive measures that should be taken.
However, since the issue of kidnapping was not just one day here in Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole, it has not been possible to totally eliminate or curb the menace.
From my end, I believe that the current efforts, particularly the deployment of soldiers and newly deployed trained forest guards, can work; I believe this menace can be curbed in Kwara State.
What advantage can the community dwellers leverage to prevent such occurrences?
We are at an advantage now that we are in a dry season, when the forest is somehow cleared. The people can see the forest clearly and notice when people are hiding. The reason it has been difficult to flush out bandits in Kwara South, specifically in Irepodun and Ifelodun, is that the area features hills and thick forests.
In some places, we don’t have caves where they hide and these bandits and kidnappers go straight inside these caves for days, and you may not be able to locate them after they launch assaults. But with the collaboration of the air force and the dry season, the bush will be dry.
When the forest is set on fire, the security forces will see them from a distance, and we’ll be able to enter wherever they are. Airstrikes from the Air Force, particularly targeting their hideouts, can curtail the menace. If this is done, I’m sure that with the help of local vigilantes who know the terrain very well, the bandits can be overpowered.
What kind of people live in Adanla community?
It’s a serene community that is not too populated. It’s an agrarian society, and the people are very industrious. Although only a few people live there, most people live outside the community. The people are peace-loving and hardworking.
Do you think the government can partner with local vigilantes to fight insecurity?
Yes. I’m still calling on the government not to waver or not to relent in assisting local vigilantes to work with the organised security forces. The reason local vigilantes should be involved is that they know the terrain better, and their resilience is commendable. They are volunteers; they are not looking for money.
All they need is some incentives, like getting enough ammunition. They are working for the people and not being paid for their service, so they work better. These people don’t want their people to be victims of insecurity.
The government should help them. I want to say that the Kwara State Government is not doing badly thus far in assisting the local vigilantes, the organised security forces.
What is your position on state police to help in securing the country?
I think I’m not in support; I’m yet to be convinced that the state police can do better. What I would prefer is having something like Amotekun, as we have in the South-West. The Amotekun in the South-West is doing better. I’m just thinking of the politics that will come with the state police.
I’m also thinking of the clash of interest or conflicting roles of the state police with the Nigeria Police. I just have some fears about the creation of state police. Will it not be the same as the Nigeria Police? Many of them are corrupt, and this can spread to the state police.
