Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: traditional ruler

  • Fusengbuwa Ruling House Gets Council Clearance, Sets Jan. 12 Nomination Meeting

    Fusengbuwa Ruling House Gets Council Clearance, Sets Jan. 12 Nomination Meeting

    Funsegbuwa Ruling house letter
    Funsegbuwa Ruling house letter Inviting nominations

    The Fusengbuwa Ruling House has received formal approval from the Ijebu-Ode Local Government to begin its internal selection process for nominating a new Awujale of Ijebuland.

    The approval was conveyed in an official letter dated January 6, 2026, signed by the secretary to the local government, giving the ruling house the go-ahead to commence its internal nomination procedure.

    In its reply, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House invited relevant local government officials to attend its nomination meeting fixed for Monday, January 12, 2026, as the next step in the succession process.

    The move is part of the broader traditional succession framework for the Awujale stool, where recognised ruling houses conduct internal consultations and forward nominees through established channels toward eventual selection and formal recognition.

    Ijebu-Ode Local Government / Fusengbuwa Ruling House (letters) 2026-01-06

    Photo Credit:

  • Kidnappers Demand N450 Million Ransom for Abducted Kwara Monarch

    Kidnappers Demand N450 Million Ransom for Abducted Kwara Monarch

    According to The Guardian, kidnappers who abducted the Oniwo of Aafin, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, along with his son and other villagers, have demanded a ransom of N450 million. the traditional ruler was taken from his community in Kwara State during a late-night raid that has left the local population in a state of panic.

    The abduction highlights the persistent ‘Kidnap Terror’ that has returned to parts of the North-Central and North-West regions. Security forces have reportedly been deployed to the area, but no rescue has been affected as of Saturday morning.

    Vanguard described the situation in its special report, noting that ‘from Abuja to North, communities live in fear again’ as abduction cases spike in the new year. The Cable also tracked the incident, adding that the Kwara State government is currently in emergency talks with traditional rulers to bolster local vigilante groups.

    Echotitbits take: Targeting traditional rulers is a deliberate tactic to break community morale. The high ransom demand suggests that kidnapping has remained a ‘profitable’ enterprise despite the government’s efforts to track financial flows through the NIN-SIM linkage.

    Source: The Guardian — https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/kidnappers-demand-n450m-to-release-kwara-monarch-son-others/

    The Guardian January 3, 2026

    Photo Credit: The Guardian

  • Gunmen raid Kwara palace, abduct monarch and NYSC-serving son

    Gunmen raid Kwara palace, abduct monarch and NYSC-serving son

    2026-01-02 09:00:00
    Reporting by Vanguard indicates gunmen attacked a palace in Kwara State and kidnapped a traditional ruler along with his son, who was described as an NYSC member.

    Accounts of the incident suggest the attackers targeted the palace directly, overwhelmed limited security presence and escaped with the victims as residents raised alarm.

    Security sources say efforts are ongoing to track the kidnappers, as the abduction adds to the pressure on North-Central communities battling recurring kidnapping incidents.

    Validation: Punch reported the abduction of the monarch and his son after a “violent” palace attack. Premium Times cited a source describing the assault and reported the monarch’s wife was injured, quoting: “She was hit in the arm by a bullet.”

    Echotitbits take: Targeted palace abductions signal confidence and intelligence by criminal networks. Watch for early proof-of-life communications, coordinated search operations, and whether state authorities deploy intelligence-led raids rather than reactive checkpoints.

    Source: Vanguard — 2026-01-01 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/01/monarch-son-kidnapped-in-kwara-palace-attack/)
    Vanguard 2026-01-01

    Photo Credit: Vanguard