News
Over 30 Kwara traditional rulers flee palaces with their families over terror attacks
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, it has been 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.
“When attacks became frequent, it was no longer safe for them to remain in the palace. Even ordinary residents are afraid, so you can imagine what it means for a king who is always a target.”
Olasunkanmi recalled that a major attack on the community in March 2026 marked a turning point.
“After the bandits attacked the church on March 22 and abducted about eight people, many families started leaving. The fear was too much. People abandoned their homes overnight,” he said.
He added that while there had been a slight improvement in security in recent weeks, the absence of traditional rulers continued to affect coordination and decision-making.
“Even as some people are trying to return, there is no strong leadership on the ground. That makes it difficult to rebuild confidence,” he stated.
According to him, Omugo is part of the larger Oro-Ago community, which comprises about 15 towns, including Ajegunle, Iragbon, Ago, Oke Ayin, Oyate, and Oke Daba, all of which have experienced varying degrees of attacks.
Further findings by Saturday PUNCH showed that Oreke and Oreke Oke-Igbo communities have been largely deserted since June 2025 following repeated bandit incursions.
The situation escalated after an attack on a marble mining site near Oreke-Okeigbo on June 4, 2025, where two police officers, Assistant Superintendent Haruna Watsai and Inspector Tukur Ogah, were killed.
A palace worker, Samuel Afolayan, said the attacks marked the beginning of mass displacement.
“Initially, they were just stealing food and livestock. But later, they started kidnapping and killing people. That was when everyone began to leave.
“As I speak to you, I have not been to Oreke since June last year. The king is not there, the palace is empty, and the entire community is deserted. Even neighbouring villages along that axis have been abandoned,” he stated.
Afolayan described the area as “completely isolated,” adding that basic social and economic activities had collapsed.
Similarly, the Oniwo of Afin, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, has not returned to his domain since he was abducted alongside his son on New Year’s Eve.
Gunmen invaded his residence in December 2025 and kidnapped the monarch and his son, who is a corps member.
While the son was released after about 21 days, the monarch regained his freedom after a ransom reportedly exceeding N30m was paid.
A palace source said the monarch was still undergoing treatment.
“Kabiyesi went through a very traumatic experience. He spent almost a month in captivity under harsh conditions. Given his age, it affected him seriously,” the source said.
“Since his release, he has been receiving medical attention. Doctors advised that he should rest and avoid stressful situations. That is why he has not returned to the community.”
Across the affected communities, the impact of the attacks has been devastating.
It was gathered that farms had been abandoned, schools shut down, and markets rendered inactive as residents fled to safer locations.
The latest gunmen attack occurred in Olayinka community in Ifelodun LGA, where armed men stormed the palace of the monarch, Oba Salman Olátúnjí Aweda, in the early hours of Saturday and abducted him alongside his wife and another resident.
Police authorities later confirmed the arrest of 42 suspected illegal miners in connection with the abduction, while sources disclosed that the kidnappers demanded about N400m ransom.
A resident, who identified himself simply as Tunde, recounted the attack.
“It was like a war scene,” he said.
“They came with guns and started shooting. People were running in different directions. Before we knew what was happening, Kabiyesi had been taken.”
Tunde added that the attackers appeared to have prior knowledge of activities in the palace.
“Earlier that day, some miners came to pay royalties to the king. So, when the attackers came at night, they demanded the money. Kabiyesi gave it to them, but they still took him away. After that incident, everyone fled. Nobody wants to stay there again,” he said.
Traditional rulers killed by gunmen
Beyond Olayinka community, a disturbing pattern has emerged across Kwara South, with traditional rulers increasingly becoming targets.
In September 2025, the Baale of Ogbayo in Oke-Ode was killed in his palace after gunmen invaded the community at dawn.
Earlier, in February 2024, the Olukoro of Koro-Ekiti, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole, was killed in his palace, while his wife and another person were abducted.
Sources said the kidnappers initially demanded N100m, which was later reduced to N40m.
In November 2025, the Ojibara of Bayagan-Ile, Oba Kamilu Salami, was abducted on his farm and released after about 25 days in captivity following the payment of ransom.
According to findings, ransom demands in recent cases have ranged between N40m and N400m.
A source involved in one of the negotiations said, “They usually start with outrageous figures, sometimes over N100m. After negotiations, it may come down, but it is still a huge burden.
“In many cases, families have to sell properties or borrow money to secure the release of their loved ones.”
‘Development disturbing’
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.”
However, a palace source who did not want to be named said engagements were ongoing behind the scenes.
“These issues are being discussed. The traditional rulers are engaging government and security agencies, but not everything can be made public,” the source said.
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.
The community leader linked the worsening insecurity to illegal mining activities and weak local structures.
Traditional rulers abandoned indigenous protection — Monarch
The monarch of Osi community in Akure North LGA, Oba David Olajide, also advised his colleagues to adopt measures to protect themselves and their subjects against criminal attacks.
Olajide, who once survived a bandit attack in his community, also lamented that some rulers had abandoned the traditions of their communities.
He said, “The issue of insecurity in the country is getting worse to the extent that bandits are attacking obas, but we traditional rulers are not resting on our oars. For instance, in my local government here, we are taking proactive measures both traditional and modern, but these are matters we can only discuss in the media cautiously because they are security issues.
“Another issue is that some obas are wrongly chosen in their communities. It is very absurd to hear that bandits are killing monarchs. Bandits cannot kill a real monarch; they cannot even go near where they are, let alone attack them. In the olden days, warriors used to be made obas, so how can you attack a warrior? It is not possible.
“But the problem we are having is that some obas were not chosen the way they should be chosen. They were selected based on connections in government or because they have money. Such persons would not take the tradition of the community seriously. Nowadays, we are having politicians as obas, and people who don’t understand tradition as obas. These are the problems.
“So, obas too need to reduce their flamboyant lifestyle. They should not be seen everywhere, at every ceremony, spraying money or moving in convoy. We obas should understand the issue of insecurity nowadays and reduce all these lifestyles.”
However, the monarch urged the government and security agencies to support efforts aimed at fighting crime and criminality in their domains.
Meanwhile, local vigilante groups say they are struggling to contain the situation due to poor equipment and limited support.
A vigilante member in Ifelodun, who identified himself as Musa, said armed groups had taken over forests in the area.
“We know these forests, but they have better weapons. Sometimes, before help comes, they are gone.
“Even with our local guns, we are always facing them without fear, but you know their superior firepower always gives them the upper hand,” he said.
He, however, called for stronger collaboration between vigilantes and formal security agencies, including better funding and equipment.
The Chairman of the Igbomina Professional Association, Bode Iranloye, described the situation as alarming.
“This menace has destroyed the peaceful nature of our communities. It has affected agriculture, commerce, and communal life,” he said.
Iranloye recommended improved intelligence gathering, deployment of surveillance technology, and stricter regulation of illegal mining activities.
A security analyst, Sadiq Lawal, said the trend was concerning.
He said, “When criminals begin to target traditional rulers, it is a clear indication that authority structures have collapsed. In many African societies, kings are seen as sacred and untouchable. Once they become targets, it means the criminals are no longer afraid of consequence.” (Saturday PUNCH)
News
Adeniyi Adeyemi: I borrowed N100m to secure PFIPC DG appointment — lenders have reported me to EFCC
Adeniyi Adeyemi, director-general (DG) of the “controversial” presidential foreign intervention promotion council (PFIPC), says those who lent him N100 million to secure the appointment have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over repayment.
Adeyemi, who is facing allegations of forgery and impersonation over the existence of the PFIPC, spoke on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
The presidency has said the council does not exist and that Adeyemi was never appointed by the office of the chief of staff to the president.
On July 7, President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a “thorough investigation” into the PFIPC controversy.
Responding to questions about the source of the funds he used to operate and resources at his disposal, Adeyemi said the money was borrowed.
“Mr. Seun, I borrowed this money. In fact, those that I borrowed this N100 million have reported to EFCC,” he said.
“I borrowed this money to pay for this appointment. In fact, I can tell you, they have reported to the EFCC, asking me to refund their money. I borrowed this money.”
Adeyemi also dismissed allegations that he falsely claimed to have received an appointment from the United Nations (UN).
“It’s all sponsored. It’s a campaign of calumny. They should let us face the facts and documents. It is unfortunate that some actors in the government are taking up this matter. It’s unfortunate, and it’s embarrassing,” he said.
“Honestly, imagine the government claiming that one man, and called me a con artist, manoeuvred the whole system; it is unfortunate.”
Reacting to reports that a US-based lobbying firm is helping him seek asylum abroad, Adeyemi denied planning to leave Nigeria.
“I just ignored it because they sponsor a lot of people to bring my social media handle down,” he said.
“I don’t really know much about what is going on again. They said I was about to run away out of Nigeria. I’m still in Nigeria. I’m not going anywhere.”
Source: TheCable
By Charles Ogbu
Many Nigerians may have heard that five Enugu-based Engineers (all Igbo) who had issues with Dave Umahi when he was the governor of Ebonyi state went to work in Ebonyi sometime in 2021 and never returned home till date but only a few know the full gist. Come with me as we dive into the detail of what has come to be known as the ‘NELAN FIVE’
Sometime in 2021, when the current Nigeria’s minister of works, Senator Engineer David Nweze Umahi, CON was the governor of Ebonyi state, it happened that the Umahi led govt felt the need to construct the Abakaliki Ring Road with loan from the African Development Bank (AFDB) and as is the case with many project funded by the AfDB, part of the condition for the loan was that AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTING FIRM would be employed to supervise the project to ensure the construction followed the terms upon which the loan was agreed
NELAN CONSULTING LIMITED, an Enugu-based consulting engineering firm specializing in project supervision, consultancy, and oversight for infrastructure projects, was hired through INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING to monitor and supervise the main contractors, ensure compliance with contract terms, AfDB standards, and quality
The firm detailed 5 of their best engineers on the project. They were;
Engr. Nelson Onyemeh — Lead consultant/CEO of NELAN Consultants, from Ihiala, Anambra State.
• Engr. Ernest Edeani — From Nkanu, Enugu State.
• Engr. Ikechukwu Ejiofor — From Umunya, Anambra State.
• Engr. Samuel Aneke — From Nkanu, Enugu State.
• Engr. Stanley Nwazulum — From Amawbia, Anambra State.
In the course of their job, there was serious tensions between NELAN and the Umahi administration over project control and payments. According to the families of the 5 engineers, the Umahi government allegedly wanted NELAN to “take a back seat” so the state could exercise direct control, issue payment certificates, and give instructions to contractors. The then governor Umahi reportedly wanted NELAN to sign/approve certificates of satisfactory completion for work supervised or executed by other engineers/contractors — something NELAN refused, arguing it violated AfDB contract terms, their professional obligations, and risked the firm (and possibly the project) being blacklisted by the AfDB.
This disagreement created bad blood between the Umahi govt and the NELAN Engineers.
On November 3, 2021, the 5 engineers left Enugu for Ebonyi state in an official Toyota Hilux with registration ERR 001 EB for site supervision but never came back till this very moment neither were their remains found till date.
The Umahi-led Government issued a statement describing the incident as an unfortunate abduction by unknown gunmen linked to the Effium/Ezza-Effium communal crisis going on in a part of the state then adding that upon receiving news of the disappearance, the state govt mobilized security agencies for a search and rescue operation.
But in late November 2021, reportedly during a State Executive Council/Security Council meeting, Umahi publicly announced that the five engineers had been killed and buried in the bush by “Ezza warriors”, based on alleged confessions from arrested suspects. It should be noted that the then governor Umahi made this statement WHILE police and DSS investigations were still ongoing.
The families of the missing engineers described the statement as premature and shocking and insisted that the disappearance of the engineers was targeted and not a result of some random communal violence as alleged by the govt. They cite the “control of certifications and payments” dispute between the engineers and Umahi as being connected to the disappearance.
On their part, the Police and DSS launched investigations which led to the arrest of at least six suspects who were charged with kidnapping (and in some references, murder) in Charge No. HKW/7C/2022 at the Ebonyi State High Court in Ezzamgbo before Justice John Igboji.
Skeletal remains the security agencies believed to be those of the engineers were presented to the families but an INDEPENDENT DNA tests funded by the families to verify the same skeletal remains came back negative for the engineers; one set reportedly belonged to a female even when all five victims were men. This again, fueled the families’ suspicions that the disappearance of the engineers was masterminded by some person(s) and that even those claiming to be investigating may be trying to cover up the real truth.
To add to the families’ suspicion, a notorious kidnapper known as “Small” with a phone number – 08088985480 – allegedly first contacted the families shortly after the disappearance, claiming one engineer was in an accident and demanding ₦50,000 for treatment. Families paid in an attempt to trace him only for “Small” to end up reported killed (some account said by Anambra vigilantes in 2025 while some said he was killed earlier by his own people).Determined to find out the truth, the families hired private trackers to do a Phone tracking/triangulation on “Small” phone numbers (the result of which was reportedly reviewed by some investigators) and the result allegedly showed “Small” communicating repeatedly with individuals linked to the road project, including one Barrister Chioma Nweze who was then a close adviser to Umahi and involved in the Ring Road project (now Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Community Engagement, South-East) and Felix Otta (project coordinator). Families believe that these links suggest the disappearance of the engineers was carefully planned and executed by powerful highly placed persons, and not some random community violence. Chioma Nweze strongly denied communicating with any attackers. 
The families equally alleged that a Key DSS investigator (Victor Chijioke Onyesom) was allegedly removed/sacked at a critical stage of the investigation without proper process or replacement. They queried why the security agents rushed to file charges without producing bodies or concluding investigations. On November 29, 2021, at a project progress review meeting, one Engr. S. Sowomi allegedly represented NELAN while the five-man management team was missing. This, the families deemed outrageous.
Since November, 2021 till date, the five wives of the five engineers — Patricia Onyemeh, Lovette Edeani, Ifeoma Ejiofor, Esther Aneke, and Mrs. Nwazulum — have been vocal and consistent in demanding answers from Dave Umahi and the relevant authorities. They insist the engineers traveled for a legitimate official assignment/meeting connected to the project and were targeted because of NELAN’s resistance to Umahi’s alleged attempts to bypass proper supervision and control payments/certificates against AfDB rules.
They reject the “general communal clash” narrative as a cover-up, calling it “outrageous, misconceived, misrepresented, and flawed.” while maintaining there is a coordinated cover-up, including impersonation at meetings, interference in investigations, rushed prosecutions to shield real culprits, and threats (including from an undisclosed “ghost client” after petitioning authorities).
They have been consistent in asking: IF THE KILLERS WERE ARRESTED AND CONFESSED, WHERE THEN ARE THE BODIES? Why charge the suspects for murder without bodies?
They have submitted petitions to President Tinubu, Senate President Akpabio, Speaker Abbas, NHRC, relevant security agencies, and state governments (Anambra, Enugu).
On March 16, 2026, they protested at the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja (moved from National Assembly grounds), demanding justice, bodies, and accountability from Umahi. Two months after on May 2026, they issued a strong public rejoinder accusing Umahi of cover-up and demanding fresh probe. July 2026, through their lead counsel (including Femi Falana SAN in some actions), they obtained the Certified True Copy (CTC) of court proceedings in Charge HKW/7C/2022 and petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and others for independent review, citing irregularities. 
On the Court Proceedings and Current status of the case;
In Charge No. HKW/7C/2022:
Six defendants were arraigned for kidnapping while applications to strike out names were filed early on.
In May 2025, the court noted that three applicants “enjoying the amnesty of the Ebonyi State Government” were admitted to bail on self-recognisance.
The case has seen repeated absences of defendants and counsel. On one occasion, the judge openly expressed frustration, noting the prosecution had informed the court about amnesty and that defendants would “do the needful,” only for them to stay away. The judge then ordered a senior state counsel to appear and explain.
In summary, the case remains stalled for now while the families continue to demand for a fresh INDEPENDENT FEDERAL LEVEL INVESTIGATION.
The Federal Government has suspended the proposed review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the National Examinations Council Senior School Certificate Examination, pending wider consultations with stakeholders.
In a Monday statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, the ministry said the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, had been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review before any final decision is taken.
The ministry, in the release signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, said the suspension followed concerns and feedback from members of the public.
“The Federal Ministry of Education announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the statement said.
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According to the ministry, the proposed fee review was driven by rising costs associated with conducting national examinations, noting that registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing operational expenses.
It cited higher costs of logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other services required to maintain the credibility of public examinations.
The statement said the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be put on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive and evidence-based policymaking.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking,” it said.
Oyebanji retains governing councils of Ekiti tertiary institutions
The ministry said the decision reflects its commitment to ensuring that policies affecting students and their families are carefully considered and responsive to public interest.
It added that consultations would be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other critical partners before any decision is reached.
Accordingly, the ministry said the proposed review of examination registration fees would not take effect as earlier communicated until the consultation process is concluded.
The Federal Ministry of Education reiterated that students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to the Federal Government’s education agenda and pledged to keep the public informed throughout the consultation process.
FG said it approved N50,000 as the new examination fee for WAEC and NECO for secondary school candidates from 2027.
The initial registration fee was N27,500, which means the new increment comes with an 82 per cent hike.
In a statement on June 18, 2026, issued by the Director of Senior Secondary Education of the Ministry of Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, the approval followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of the fee for the Senior School Certificate Examination for candidates from 2027.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students had earlier kicked against the Federal Government’s approval of a uniform N50,000 fee for candidates.
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