Oba AbdulRahman Fabiyi, the traditional leader of Owa-Onire in Kwara State, has relocated from his palace to a secluded area on the outskirts of Ilorin due to ongoing security concerns in his domain. The monarch stated that he was compelled to abandon his residence after a series of armed assaults, notably one that occurred on December 31, 2025.
According to Oba Fabiyi, eight individuals described as terrorists breached the gates and doors of his palace on the aforementioned date. He recounted that they seized his phone, his wife's phone, and some cash under duress, though they did not force him to accompany them. However, the assailants did depart with two of his palace aides.
This incident follows a prior abduction approximately a year before, during which the monarch was held for seven days. He was eventually released after his community members paid a ransom of ₦5 million.
"I guess that was why they didn’t ask me to follow them at gunpoint on December 31, 2025," he remarked, adding that the attackers instead took two of his aides during that raid.
Oba Fabiyi has declared that he will not resume his duties at the palace unless robust security measures are implemented. "We have been appealing to the government to provide security for us in Onire. For instance, we don’t have any police station or security outfit, so it makes our community very porous," he explained.
He further highlighted the absence of forest guards and the limited capabilities of local vigilantes to effectively counter attacks. "If there’s no security in my community I won’t return to the palace. Government should please provide security for us. We are ready to complement them with our local vigilantes," he urged.
The monarch also revealed that insecurity has driven other traditional rulers in neighbouring communities to abandon their areas. "Over the years, monarchs only visit the community at weekends. But now many have completely left because of the challenges of insecurity," he stated, naming Owa Kajola, OkeOyin, and Ofaro as affected areas.
Despite his displacement, Oba Fabiyi affirmed that he continues to discharge his traditional responsibilities remotely. "People in my community call me every day and I settle rifts among them. If there are issues that demand that they should see me physically, they will come here and I will settle it," he said.
He noted that residents are managing the situation by dividing their time between the community and safer adjacent areas, as the persistent insecurity continues to disrupt normal life.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!