How 10 Gunmen Murdered Ondo Monarch In His Palace After Bullets Did Not Penetrate Him

AKURE — The quiet community of Agamo in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State was thrown into mourning on February 18, 2026, when 10 gunmen stormed the palace of Oba Kehinde Jacob Falodun, the Alagamo of Agamo, in a daring but failed abduction attempt that ended in his brutal murder.

As previously reported by NaijaChoice News, the attack has sent shockwaves across Ondo State, with residents and traditional rulers demanding urgent government intervention amid rising insecurity in the region.

Eyewitnesses and family members described how the assailants, operating in commando style, invaded the palace around 7:10 pm. When their attempt to kidnap the revered monarch failed, they clubbed him to death after bullets allegedly failed to penetrate his body.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has also raised alarm over the spate of kidnappings and attacks in the state, urging the government to take decisive action.

The late monarch’s wife and daughter are still traumatised by the events of that fateful evening, describing it as their family’s worst nightmare.

In an emotional account, the monarch’s wife, Veronica Falodun, narrated: “It was like a nightmare. He was just resting outside, and then, they came and took him away. They hit him with daggers, he cried out for help, but no one could come.

“Kabiyesi went to Akure on the day of the incident and came back that same day. Shortly after he returned, he said he would like to sit outside and take some rest because he was tired. I stayed with him for a while and went inside.

“Not long after, I heard some argument outside, and before I knew it, some masked persons looking like bandits came and began to drag Baba (the monarch) and also shooting at the same time.

“They were 10 in number. Three of them were at the entrance of the palace, while the remaining seven came inside. I ran away. One of them chased me, but he did not know how I escaped. They shot at me, but the bullets missed me.

“The killers dragged him in an attempt to abduct him from his palace, the gunmen shot at him repeatedly, but the bullets failed to penetrate his body. Kabiyesi was crying for help, but nobody could come out in the face of gunshots. They kept dragging him. Nobody came out.

“The gunmen, who were speaking a different language, shot at him several times but their bullets did not penetrate. They now hit him on the head and his stomach before he died.”

The late monarch’s daughter, Folayemi, who witnessed part of the invasion, added that the killers operated like professionals. “I went out to buy something, but while on my way, I saw the gunmen entering the palace. So, I ran for cover immediately and went to hide in our neighbour’s compound. They were shooting sporadically and chanting.

“I saw them vividly. They dressed like herdsmen. They were speaking Fulani language. They first went to check Baba’s vehicle and looked at the registered plate number before aiming at him.”

Reacting swiftly, the Ondo State Police Command, through Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, vowed that the assailants would be tracked down and brought to justice. However, findings by NaijaChoice News and other reports confirm that no arrests have been made weeks after the incident.

Security agencies, including the military, have since launched a full-scale manhunt for the killers.

Disturbed by the rising cases of kidnapping and killings, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has directed security agencies to intensify operations and crack down on criminal elements across the state.

Speaking through his Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Idowu Ajanaku, the governor expressed deep concern, noting that some of the incidents were allegedly orchestrated by locals in connivance with outsiders. He assured that no stone would be left unturned to restore peace.

The Agamo community continues to reel from the loss of their monarch, with many residents still in shock and calling for enhanced security presence in rural areas of Ondo State.