Bandits kidnap traditional rulers, while others in Kwara use TikTok to demand ransom

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have reportedly kidnapped the traditional ruler of Igbesi town and other residents of the town in Isin Local Government Area of ​​Kwara State.

The king, along with other residents were said to have been abducted in an attack carried out by suspected bandits over the weekend in the city, and taken to an unknown destination, while the suspected bandits have not yet demanded ransom.

Residents continue to call for immediate intervention by security agencies to prevent further attacks and rescue those already taken hostage.

Sources also disclosed to journalists in Ilorin on Sunday that the bandits were said to have used the TikTok account of another kidnap victim, a 23-year-old woman identified as Babatunde Fasilat, to make posts while demanding ransom for her release.

Facilat was reportedly kidnapped on July 26, 2026 in Wande community.

According to sources familiar with the incident, the bandits invaded the community and kidnapped Fasilat after his father tried to defend him.

“His father was shot and the bullet penetrated the other side of his body.

“The bandits numbered four. When his father tried to defend himself, they went to his room and kidnapped him,” said the source.

The source added that the kidnappers had demanded N20 million as ransom before Fasilat could be released.

“Now, they are demanding N20 million before they can release him, and they are using his TikTok account to make posts,” the source said.

The use of the victim’s social media accounts has increasingly raised concerns among citizens, as the kidnappers apparently used the platform to communicate and pressure the victim’s family to fulfill their ransom demands.

When contacted, some senior police officers in two local government areas of the state, who spoke with newsmen in Ilorin on Sunday on condition of anonymity, confirmed the ugly development.

They said: “We have sent a signal to the state police command regarding this ugly development and the command has taken action.”