A traditional ruler in southern Nigeria was brutally killed Wednesday evening after armed men stormed his palace in what authorities describe as a coordinated attack, deepening concerns about the spread of bandit violence beyond the country’s northern strongholds.
The daughter of the Alagamo of Agamo, Oba Kehinde Jacob Falodun, said suspected bandits invaded the monarch’s residence in Ondo State’s Akure North Local Government Area shortly after 6 p.m., firing gunshots that sent residents fleeing.
According to the monarch’s wife, the attackers arrived moments after the king returned from Akure and sat outside the palace to rest.
“He was seated in front of the palace. He went to Akure and came back, saying he would want to rest a bit,” she said tearfully.
About 10 armed men reportedly entered the palace compound. Three positioned themselves at the entrance while others advanced inside, shooting sporadically. The Olori said she fled into a nearby bush as one of the assailants pursued her.
“I was shot at but it did not affect me,” she said.
She alleged that the attackers dragged the monarch away despite his protests. “He kept telling them he was a king,” the couple’s daughter recounted. The assailants allegedly beat him repeatedly and attempted to abduct him before attacking him with a sharp object outside the palace.
“They carried him three times while shooting into the air,” she said. “Later, they brought out something like a knife and attacked him.”
The monarch was found dead a few metres from the palace, with severe injuries to his head and stomach, witnesses said. Blood reportedly gushed from his head.
Family members claimed the attackers spoke Hausa and wore clothing resembling that of Fulani herders. They allegedly entered the community through the Itaogbolu axis. A female guest at the palace was beaten and had her mobile phone seized during the assault.
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the killing, stating that officers received a distress report around 7:50 p.m. on February 18, 2026, that armed men had taken the monarch from his residence.
“The victim was later found a few metres away with gunshot wounds and was confirmed dead at the scene,” police spokesperson Abayomi Jimoh said.
Tactical teams, in collaboration with Amotekun operatives, local hunters and vigilantes, have launched a search of nearby forests for the suspects.
“Efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects. Monitoring and surveillance activities have been intensified to ensure the safety of residents,” the police added.
Security Tightens in Kwara
The killing comes amid heightened security concerns across parts of Nigeria, with officials warning that violent groups traditionally active in the north appear to be expanding southward.
In neighbouring Kwara State, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has launched a 24-hour surveillance operation across Ilorin metropolis and other sensitive locations.
Newly deployed Kwara State Commandant Bala Bawa Bodinga announced the intensified measures on Thursday, shortly after assuming office.
“We have commenced 24-hour surveillance within Ilorin metropolis. There has not been a single night without patrol since I assumed duty,” he said.
Bodinga said the new strategy, directed by Commandant-General Ahmed Abubakar Audi, is intelligence-driven and designed to reinforce protection of critical national assets, public infrastructure and places of worship.
“All Jumu’ah prayers on Fridays must have adequate security coverage. The same applies to churches during Sunday services,” he stated.
Additional personnel have been deployed to Kaiama following recent concerns, while surveillance and inter-agency collaboration have been expanded statewide.
As communities mourn the slain monarch, residents and security analysts warn that the attack signals a troubling shift in Nigeria’s security landscape—one that increasingly threatens traditional institutions and rural communities far from the country’s long-troubled northern conflict zones.
