Kwara monarch Oba AbdulRahman Fabiyi, the Olowa of Owa-Onire in Kwara State’s Ifelodun Local Government Area, has stated that he will not go back to his palace until his community’s security situation improves after many attacks by alleged terrorists.
The Kwara monarch, who presently resides in hiding on the outskirts of Ilorin, claimed to have left his castle following an assault on December 31, 2025, when armed men broke into his home, ENigeria Newspaper learnt this when he spoke to Vanguard journalists.
“Eight terrorists broke the gates and doors of my palace on December 31, 2025. They collected my phone and that of my Olori and some money I had with me at gunpoint. But they didn’t order me to follow them. Though they later went away with two of my palace aides.
“Though I remember they kidnapped me about a year earlier when they took my Jeep away. I spent about seven days with them until I was released after my community paid them N5 million”, he told journalists.
“I guess that was why they didn’t ask me to follow them but they eventually went away with two of my palace aides,” he added.
The Kwara monarch then said that the lack of sufficient security infrastructure in the region is the reason he has been absent from his kingdom since January 1, 2026. He said that because there is no official security presence, it is simple for criminals to operate, making the community open to attacks.
“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 for these terrorists to just enter and take my people away. There’s little the local vigilantes can do. We don’t also have Forest Guards.
“I know the state government is trying, but with the look of things they are overwhelmed. So, if there’s no security in my community I won’t return to the palace,”
The monarch also disclosed that insecurity has forced several traditional rulers in neighbouring communities of Kwara to abandon their domains.
“Over the years, monarchs only visit the community at weekends. But now many have completely left because of the challenges of insecurity. People who have shops and businesses and they can’t completely abandon the community. They still found a way to do their business and stay in the neighbouring communities that are safer,”” he said, mentioning areas such as Owa Kajola, OkeOyin and Ofaro.
Oba Fabiyi, however, stated that despite his physical absence, he still manages communal matters from a distance.
He said, “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.”
The Kwara monarch emphasized that his return is totally dependent on the government’s rapid improvement of local security.
