FACT-CHECK: Did Kwara Police Nab King of Alabe, Queen and Babanla Monarch With over ₦120m Banditry Loot?
Claim: A viral post circulating on Facebook and other social media platforms claims that the Kwara State Police Command arrested the “King of Alabe” and his Queen after discovering ₦120 million linked to banditry in their custody. The post further claims that the “King of Babanla” and his queens were also apprehended for the same crime.
An infographic showing four individuals dressed in traditional attire accompanied the caption: “Kwara Scandal: Monarchs Nabbed Over ₦120m Banditry Loot.” According to the post, ₦90 million was recovered from the King of Alabe’s palace, while another ₦30 million was traced to his Queen’s account.
The post, which has triggered mixed reactions online, has been shared widely with some users praising the supposed arrests as evidence that “no one is above the law.”
Kwara State, particularly Ifelodun Local Government Area, has recently witnessed a surge in kidnappings and violent attacks. On August 8, 2025, gunmen killed five people, including a police officer, in Babanla. This incident has fueled fears and given traction to security-related claims online.
Verification: PRNigeria’s fact-check team launched an investigation to determine the authenticity of the viral report.
Social media analysis shows the post first appeared on Facebook on August 29, 2025, before spreading to X (formerly Twitter), where it garnered more than 274,000 views. On Facebook, it recorded hundreds of likes, comments and shares.
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A reverse image search of the infographic revealed that the pictures of the supposed monarchs are AI-generated. The individuals appear in staged positions with identical backgrounds, showing no evidence of a real police operation.
Further checks show that the Kwara State Police Command has no record of such arrests.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi dismissed the claim, stating: “I don’t know where this information came from. Taking into custody? Definitely not by Kwara Police Command. I doubt the authenticity of the story,” she told PRNigeria
PRNigeria’s findings also establish that the so-called “King of Alabe” does not exist in Kwara’s official hierarchy of traditional rulers. While Alabe is a locality, no monarch bears such a title. On the other hand, the Oba of Babanla, Oba Aliyu Adegboyega Yusuf Arojojoye II, is a recognized ruler, but there is no credible evidence linking him to banditry. In fact, he has only been reported as collaborating with the state government and security agencies to address insecurity in his domain.
As for the financial claim, although ransom money has been recovered in past security operations, the figure of ₦120 million has no basis in official police reports. The largest confirmed recovery in recent months was ₦11.3 million in July 2025, far below the viral claim.
No credible media outlet or government agency has reported any such arrests.
Conclusion: PRNigeria’s fact-check investigation finds no evidence that the King of Alabe and his Queen were arrested with ₦120 million, or that the King of Babanla and his wives were taken into custody. The title “King of Alabe” is fictitious, the images are AI-generated and the police have denied making such arrests.
Verdict: FALSE – The report is fabricated, with no credible evidence to support it.
By PRNigeria
