Kwara Monarch Dies Days After Release From Kidnappers’ Den

By Joseph Sunday

The Onigbesi of Igbesi Land, Oba Moses Oyinloye Iwedunmoye I, has died just days after regaining freedom from his abductors in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The traditional ruler was abducted on August 22, 2025, after armed men invaded the Igbesi community.

He was rescued five days later alongside two other victims during a joint security operation in the Elerin/Ijomu-Oro axis of the state.

His death was announced on Saturday by the National President of Omo Ibile Igbomina, Bisi Fakayode, who described the development as painful and prayed for the repose of the monarch’s soul.

Confirming the incident, one of the late monarch’s sons, Prince Olasunkanmi, told PUNCH Online that his father died in the early hours of Saturday at a hospital following a brief illness after his release.

“Yes, the news is true. He died after a brief illness following his release. We took him to the hospital, hoping he would survive, but he died there very early this morning,” he said.

It was gathered that the rescue operation that freed the monarch was carried out after a report was received at about 10 a.m. at the Oro Police Station from a vigilante, who disclosed that one of his men had sustained gunshot injury in the bush around Elerin/Ijomu-Oro.

Acting on the information, the Divisional Police Officer, Oro Division, led a combined team of police operatives, soldiers and vigilantes to the area.

The Kwara State Police Command said the suspected kidnappers opened fire on sighting the security team, leading to a gun duel in which one of the suspects was neutralized.

The other gang members fled into the surrounding bush, and the team combed the area where they found the three kidnapped victims and evacuated them for medical attention.