DSS detains wife, aide of Kwara monarch over alleged banditry links
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested the wife of Oba Aliyu Alabi Yusuf (Arojojoye II), the traditional ruler of Babanla in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, over alleged involvement in banditry-related activities.
Sources confirmed that the monarch’s wife, along with his personal assistant, is currently being held at the DSS headquarters in Abuja. Investigators accuse her of operating a Point of Sale (POS) business suspected of facilitating ransom payments to criminal groups, while the aide is alleged to have handled suspicious cash transactions on behalf of the network.
The development follows a recent fact-check by PRNigeria, which debunked a viral social media claim that the Kwara State Police Command had arrested two monarchs — referred to as the “King of Alabe” and the “King of Babanla” — with ₦120 million linked to banditry. The report clarified that the images shared online were AI-generated, and police authorities denied knowledge of any such arrests.
Despite the police denial, security sources revealed that the DSS has indeed intensified its investigation, leading to the detention of the Babanla monarch’s wife and aide — a move that has placed the palace under heightened public scrutiny.
Earlier this month, Oba Yusuf filed a defamation lawsuit against individuals accusing his family of colluding with bandits. However, he withdrew the case on September 15 following the intervention of local stakeholders who appealed for peace and communal harmony.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Police Command has again dissociated itself from the case, maintaining that it has received no formal complaint and is not involved in the ongoing DSS operation.
Sources: PR Nigeria
