Armed bandits stormed the Igbesi community in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State late Saturday night, August 22, 2026, abducting the community’s traditional ruler alongside several local residents.
The monarch, Oba Moses Oyinloye Iwedunmoye I, the Kabiyesi Onigbesi of Igbesi land, was forcibly taken from his domain to an undisclosed location around 11:00 p.m. during the surprise invasion.
Key details of the incident
Location: Igbesi Community, Isin Local Government Area, Kwara State.
Time of attack: Approximately 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
Primary targets: Oba Moses Oyinloye Iwedunmoye I (Onigbesi of Igbesi Land) and an unspecified number of community members.
Rising security concerns
The invasion adds to a troubling wave of abduction reports recorded across various parts of Kwara State within a 24-hour window, heightening anxiety among local residents over regional security.
Local authorities have yet to confirm the exact count of missing persons as search and intelligence operations get underway.
Another village head’s wife was abducted
Meanwhile, armed bandits have abducted Iya Ayoka, the first wife of the Baale (community head) of Dabu community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The incident occurred on Friday night, August 21, 2026, when the attackers invaded the community and took her away to an unknown location.
TikTok account used for ransom demand
Following the abduction, local sources reported that the bandits compromised the TikTok account of 23-year-old Babatunde Fasilat to communicate with the public, post updates, and issue a ₦20 million ransom demand.
Fasilat was herself abducted in the first week of August 2026 during a separate attack in which her father was shot by the assailants.
Escalating security concerns
The development has further fueled fear across Kwara South communities amid a surge in kidnapping operations.
This attack occurred within 24 hours of another high-profile abduction in the state involving Oba Moses Oyinloye Iwedunmoye I, the traditional ruler of the Igbesi community in Isin Local Government Area. Security agencies are yet to issue an official statement regarding the situation.
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