Suspected bandits have abducted a newly installed traditional ruler, his wife, and another individual in Olayinka community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

According to local sources, the armed assailants stormed the monarch’s palace in the early hours of Saturday, firing sporadically before whisking the victims away to an unknown destination. The attack reportedly occurred around 1:40 a.m., leaving residents in panic.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, said the attackers were heavily armed and met no resistance as fear gripped the community during the invasion.

The abducted monarch was said to have been recently elevated and officially installed by the Kwara State Government, making the incident particularly shocking to residents.

The latest attack is reported to be the third abduction of a traditional ruler in Kwara South within the past year, raising fresh concerns over worsening insecurity in the region.

 Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement, although efforts to rescue the victims are said to be ongoing.

Residents have called on authorities to take urgent action to curb the rising wave of abductions, warning that traditional institutions are increasingly becoming targets of criminal elements.