The Department of State Services (DSS) has detained the wife of Oba Aliyu Alabi Yusuf (Arojojoye II), the traditional ruler of Babanla in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, over alleged links to banditry.

PRNigeria gathered that the monarch's wife, along with his personal assistant, has been held at the DSS headquarters in Abuja. She is accused of operating a Point of Sale (POS) system reportedly used to process ransom payments, while the personal assistant is alleged to have collected and disbursed funds to suspicious individuals.

The development follows a recent PRNigeria fact-check that debunked a viral social media post claiming the Kwara State Police Command had arrested monarchs including a so-called "King of Alabe" and the "King of Babanla" with ?120 million allegedly linked to banditry. The fact-check revealed that the images used in the post were AI-generated, and the police command denied any knowledge of such arrests.

However, despite the police denial, PRNigeria learnt that the DSS has now taken into custody the wife of the Babanla monarch and his aide, a move that has placed the palace under intense public scrutiny.

Earlier this month, the monarch himself filed a defamation suit on September 2 against several individuals who had accused his family of involvement with bandits. Thirteen days later, however, he withdrew the case, citing intervention by local stakeholders who appealed for peace and communal harmony.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Police Command has again distanced itself from the unfolding investigation, insisting it has not received any official complaint on the matter and has no involvement in the DSS operation.