Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Heavily armed bandits launched a brazen assault on a palace in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, in a bid to abduct a prominent traditional ruler, authorities and residents said. During the attack, the monarch was killed, compounding public alarm over the growing threat of violent banditry in parts of southwestern Nigeria.
According to eyewitness accounts and initial security assessments, the assailants — described as heavily armed and moving with tactical coordination — stormed the palace compound under cover of darkness. Their apparent objective was to seize the traditional ruler, a respected leader whose identity has been confirmed by community sources but is yet to be disclosed publicly by official channels for security and family privacy reasons.
Residents said the bandits opened fire on palace guards and courtiers who attempted to resist the assault. In the ensuing gun battle, the monarch was struck by bullets and sustained fatal injuries before security reinforcements arrived. Several palace aides and residents were reported to have been injured in the confrontation; efforts to evacuate the wounded to medical facilities were ongoing.
The attack has sent shockwaves through Akure and neighbouring communities, where traditional institutions are typically regarded as anchors of cultural identity and local authority. Family members, palace officials and community leaders have described the incident as a profound tragedy and called for urgent action to apprehend the perpetrators.
There has been no immediate official statement from the Ondo State Police Command or the Nigerian government confirming casualty figures or detailing arrests, but sources within security circles said that a joint operation involving police, army units and intelligence agencies was mobilised to track the assailants. Residents reported increased patrols on major access roads leading out of Akure as part of containment efforts.
Bandit attacks involving palace raids and attempted abductions of traditional rulers are relatively rare but have been increasing in frequency in several parts of Nigeria, particularly where criminal gangs have expanded operations beyond their traditional strongholds. Analysts say such attacks signal a dangerous escalation in tactics, aiming not only at economic extortion through kidnappings but also at undermining local governance structures.
Community members described the incident as unprecedented in Akure’s recent history. Some said they heard hours of sporadic gunfire before the palace went quiet, prompting fears for the safety of other household members and palace staff. Those present during the attack said that despite early warnings from palace security about unusual movements outside the compound the previous night, the scale and aggression of the assault overwhelmed initial resistance.
Traditional councils, local political figures and civil society groups have condemned the killing in the strongest terms, calling for accelerated deployment of security resources across Ondo State. They urged the state government to strengthen intelligence gathering and partnerships with federal agencies to prevent similar assaults in the future.
The family of the deceased monarch has appealed for privacy as they make arrangements for burial rites according to local customs, which observers say may be complicated by security concerns and the ongoing investigation. Religious and civil leaders in Akure have already begun organising vigils and prayer sessions to console grieving residents and pray for peace.
At the time of this report, neither the Police nor the State Government had released a full flag-official account of the incident. Media and security channels were seeking confirmation of the monarch’s identity, the number of injured, and whether any suspects had been detained in the immediate aftermath.
As the city mourns, questions are emerging about the adequacy of community protection measures and the preparedness of security agencies to respond to sophisticated attacks on high-profile targets. This latest episode underscores the broadening operational footprint of armed groups and raises urgent concerns about public safety in urban and peri-urban centres across Nigeria.
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