Terrorists stormed the palace of Ondo monarch, Kehinde Falodun, the Alagamo of Agamo in Akure North Local Government Area, on Wednesday evening and shot the traditional ruler dead after he fought off their abduction attempt.
The brutal raid unfolded around 7:50 p.m. when roughly 10 terrorists burst into the compound and opened fire.
The Olori, the monarch’s wife, described how three attackers guarded the entrance while the rest rushed inside.
“They kept dragging my husband, and I kept shouting for help,” she recounted.
“Later, they hit something on his head and stomach. He has been killed.”
She fled into nearby bushes after terrorists fired at her, but the shots left her unharmed.
The monarch refused to surrender quietly.
He resisted every effort to bundle him away, forcing the terrorists to abandon their original plan.
They dragged him a short distance from the palace before gunshots rang out.
Rescue teams later found him dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
Police and local security networks sprang into action immediately.
Officers, Amotekun operatives, hunters, and Atuluse vigilantes combed surrounding bushes throughout the night.
DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the police spokesman, vowed that authorities will leave no stone unturned to bring the killers to justice.
“The Command assures residents that no stone will be left unturned,” he declared.
Moreover, community leaders expressed profound grief and outrage.
One elder called the late Oba Falodun a peace-loving ruler who settled disputes and drove development in Agamo.
“This is a painful loss to us,” the leader said.
“Kabiyesi was very close to the people. We appeal to government and security agencies to act fast and ensure those behind this are arrested.”
The killing has left the community in fear and created a sudden leadership vacuum.
Furthermore, the assault underscores the rising wave of terrorism sweeping across Ondo State and the Southwest.
Kidnappings and attacks on farmers and rural settlements have surged in recent months, exposing gaps in border security and rapid response capabilities.
Public anger spilled onto social media within hours.
Many Nigerians praised the monarch’s bravery while others blamed federal and state authorities for failing to protect citizens from terrorists advancing southward.
Security experts now warn that without urgent, coordinated action, similar tragedies will continue to claim lives and erode trust in government.
Police intensified surveillance across Akure North and neighboring areas as the manhunt widened Thursday morning.
Residents pray that swift arrests will deliver justice and deter future attacks on traditional institutions.
