The Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, Mr. Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, has provided details on the audacious attack on the palace of the monarch of Adanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, Kwara State, carried out by armed bandits on Boxing Day.
According to Oyin-Zubair, around 6:30 pm on Friday, December 26, 2025, about 20 bandits stormed the palace of His Royal Majesty Oba David Adedumoye, the Elerin of Adanla Irese in Igbaja District. The attackers ransacked the palace for nearly an hour in the absence of any security personnel, abducting seven members of the royal family and taking phones, valuable items, and even ceremonial pots used during the Christmas Day celebration. Food meant for another event on December 27 was also seized.
The bandits did not use vehicles but entered the village on foot, boldly making their way into the palace. The monarch was away in Ilorin at the time, having left around 4 pm, and returned only to discover the abduction. Soldiers and local vigilantes arrived shortly after the incident, but the assailants had already fled. Security teams have since been combing the nearby forests in search of the kidnappers.
Oyin-Zubair noted that while kidnappings have occurred in the area previously, this was the first direct attack on the palace. He also suggested that the attack may have involved an insider, as one of the bandits appeared to know who to target and who to leave behind. The individual reportedly spoke both Yoruba and Fulani, though his Yoruba was not fluent, and wore a mask while issuing instructions.
More than ten bandits were involved, with eight entering the palace and two coordinating outside. The kidnappers later demanded a ransom of N300 million, contacting the monarch directly.
Regarding security measures, Oyin-Zubair emphasized the importance of government support for local vigilante groups, particularly during the dry season when visibility in forests is improved. He advocated for the use of air force surveillance, local knowledge from vigilantes, and continued deployment of trained soldiers and forest guards to curb the threat of kidnappings in Kwara State.
Describing Adanla community, he said it is a peaceful, agrarian society with industrious residents, though sparsely populated. He stressed that collaboration between organized security forces and local vigilantes remains crucial for effective protection.
On the topic of a state police force, Oyin-Zubair expressed skepticism, suggesting that models like Amotekun in the South-West, which rely on local intelligence and volunteer support, are more effective than creating a state-level police force that could face bureaucratic and corruption challenges.
