No fewer than 30 traditional rulers across the southern area of Kwara State have fled their palaces following a sustained wave of kidnappings, killings and violent attacks, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.
Our correspondents gathered from two credible community leaders that the affected monarchs were seeking refuge in urban centres, including Ilorin, Osogbo, Offa, and Lagos.
Findings show that some of the affected traditional rulers are from Omugo, Afin, Oreke, Oreke Oke-Igbo, Olohuntele, Alabe, Ganmu Ailehri, Ologanmo, and Igbo Agbon communities.
While some have been away from their domains for months, others have been out for nearly a year.
Their displacement, triggered by repeated attacks by armed groups, has created a leadership vacuum in their communities.
A resident of Omugo community, Wale Olasunkanmi, said his traditional ruler, known locally as Eesa, fled due to fear of abduction.
He said, “In the past, our traditional rulers were always around. They lived among us and provided leadership during crises. But now, they don’t stay here anymore. They only come occasionally for meetings or special occasions and leave immediately.
The Coordinator of the Joint Security Watch in Kwara South, Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, said the signs of mass displacement were long ignored.
“There was a time we raised the alarm that communities were being deserted, but people did not take it seriously. The development is really troubling and disturbing” he said.
“Today, more than 28 communities with traditional rulers in Ifelodun have been abandoned. Places like Olayinka, Oro-Ago, Omugo, Ahun, Oke-Oyan, Owa-Kajola, Owa-Onire, and Oba have become ghost towns. Farms are abandoned, schools shut, markets dead. The reality we warned about has become undeniable,” he stated.
Residents said the crisis had severely disrupted agriculture and worsened food insecurity.
A trader from Oro-Ago, Bose Adeyemi, said she had relocated to Ilorin.
“I am a yam seller, but I cannot go back home. Nobody wants to farm anymore because it is too dangerous,” she said.
A retired civil servant, Janet Adebisi, said she had abandoned her investments.
“I used my gratuity to start farming, but I cannot even visit the farm now. My life is more important than any investment,” she said.
Traditional council under scrutiny
The wave of attacks has put the Kwara State Traditional Council under scrutiny, with many questioning its response to the crisis.
While sources within the council confirmed that meetings had been held with government officials and security agencies, critics say the response has not been visible enough.
A community leader in Ekiti LGA, Adebayo Ojo, said, “Our royal fathers must speak with one voice. People expect leadership at a time like this.”
The crisis has also sparked debate over the role of traditional and spiritual methods in safeguarding communities.
A socio-political advocate in Kwara State, Abdul-Rahoof Bello-Labelabe, raised concerns over what he described as the worsening security situation in Kwara South.
He warned that residents were increasingly vulnerable to attacks and abductions across several communities.
Bello-Labelabe, who identified himself as the Advocate of Igbomina Liberty and Northern Yoruba Nationality, said there had been no meaningful improvement in security, particularly in Ifelodun LGA.
He disclosed that a wave of kidnappings recorded between Wednesday and Thursday affected multiple communities, leaving scores of residents abducted.
He also referenced the abduction of a traditional ruler in Olayinka community alongside his wife, noting that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom running into millions of naira.
The advocate claimed that many traditional rulers no longer resided in their domains due to safety concerns.
“Although not all traditional rulers have abandoned their communities, a significant number of them no longer live there. They only visit when necessary and leave immediately. Very few have the courage to remain. If any of them is still residing in their domain, let them come forward and state it openly,” he said.
Bello blamed abandonment of traditional practices.
“In the olden days, no one dared to touch a king. Today, our monarchs have abandoned traditional ways of protection.
“Our kings have their share of the blame. They harbour these bandits and criminals; they give them land; they know them, they cannot pretend they do not know them.
“They allow aliens to intermarry with the natives; they create markets for them; they install Seriki for them on Yoruba land. If security is made their responsibility, they will take it seriously,” he added.
@punch newspaper