Ondo monarch collapses, dies after 24 hours

The traditional ruler of Idogun in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, Onidogun of Idogun, Oba Moses Ekundayo Bakare has died.

The monarch reportedly collapsed on Wednesday and was taken to a hospital, where he remained in a coma for 24 hours before passing away on Thursday evening.

His death comes nearly a year after a crisis rocked the community in October 2025, when some residents allegedly assaulted him in an incident captured in a viral video.

Following the attack, the monarch reportedly left Idogun and remained away from the community until his death.

In the aftermath of the crisis, the Ondo State Government constituted a panel of inquiry to investigate the incident and submit its findings. However, the panel’s report has yet to be made public.

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, who is also an indigene of Idogun, confirmed the monarch’s death and expressed the government’s condolences to his family and the entire community.

Ajanaku said the chiefs of Idogun had informed him of the development. He also appealed to residents to maintain peace and order and avoid violence during the mourning period.

Meanwhile, reports from the community indicated that some indigenes opposed to the late monarch prevented his remains from being brought into Idogun on Thursday.

The residents reportedly blocked the road with logs of wood, forcing those transporting the body to return it to a mortuary in Owo.

Ondo monarch collapses, dies after 24 hours