By Ayodele Oluwafemi

A viral post circulating on social media claims that two traditional rulers in Kwara state and their queens have been arrested over alleged banditry and kidnapping.

The post also claimed that security operatives discovered N90 million from the bank account of the “King of Alabe” and N30 million was seen in the bank account of the monarch’s wife.

Also, the king of Babanla and his wife were purportedly arrested over alleged involvement in banditry in the viral post.

The viral post reads partly: “Kwara Scandal: King of Alabe, His Queen Caught With ₦120m Loot — Linked to Banditry; King of Babanla, Queens Also Arrested.

“The shocking truth has finally come out in Kwara State. The King of Alabe and his Queen were arrested after security operatives stormed their palace. During the search, over ₦90 million in cash was discovered in the king’s residence, while investigators also traced over ₦30 million hidden in his wife’s account.

“All the money has been linked directly to the kidnappings and banditry terrorizing the region. The royal couple was immediately taken into custody for further investigation.”

The post accompanied with a picture appeared on X and Facebook.

An X user, @Abdul_Ahmad_, posted on June 24, 2026.

On the same day, Crusader Radio, a radio station in Minna, shared the same post on its Facebook page.

The post appears online amid the spate of killings and kidnappings in Kwara state.

VERIFICATION

During online searches to ascertain the source of the viral post, CableCheck found out that it has been on the internet since August 2025.

The viral post was published on Nairaland forum on September 1, 2025.

Media reports also show that the Kwara police command and one of the traditional rulers mentioned in the post denied the allegations.

During a press conference in September 2025, Adegboyega Alabi, the traditional ruler of Babanla, denied social media reports that he was arrested over alleged links to banditry.

Babanla is one of the communities in Ifelodun LGA of Kwara state being ravaged by bandits.

On September 4, 2025, Adekimi Ojo, Kwara commissioner of police, also denied the social media reports.

Ojo said there was no traditional ruler in police custody.

‘RECYCLED FALSEHOOD’

In a chat with CableCheck, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, Kwara police spokesperson, said the narrative is not a “recent development but a recycled falsehood that circulated on social media over a year ago”.

Ejire-Adeyemi said the social media report was found to be “completely devoid of truth”.

“The command is concerned that certain individuals have chosen to resurrect and circulate this fabricated story with the apparent intention of misleading members of the public, causing unnecessary panic, damaging reputations, and undermining public confidence in security institutions,” the Kwara police spokesperson said.

VERDICT

The claim that two Kwara traditional rulers were arrested over alleged ties with bandits is false.

Source: TheCable