A total ransom of ₦450 million has been requested for the release of a traditional ruler in Kwara State, the Oniwo of Aafin, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, his son, and other kidnapped people. This has raised concerns about the state’s deteriorating security situation.
According to sources yesterday, the abductors are requesting ₦150 million to free the monarch and his son, Olaolu, a National Youth Service Corps member, and another ₦300 million to free eight residents who were kidnapped from Adanla-Irese, a suburb of Igbaja in the Ifelodun Local Government Area.
According to Channels TV, Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, the coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, verified the development and mentioned that ransom talks had started for both groups of kidnappees.
The kidnappers demanded N300 million just two days earlier in order to free the abducted people from Adanla. They sought N150 million for the king and his son today,” he stated.
Gunmen reportedly invaded the royal palace in Aafin village, Ile-Ire region of Ifelodun LGA, at approximately 8 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, resulting in the kidnapping of the monarch.
According to eyewitnesses, eight or so armed men broke into the palace, fired intermittently, and forced their way inside.
According to a family source, “they used their guns to smash down the doors and demanded to see the monarch and his wife.”
Felicia Olaonipekun, the monarch’s wife, was shot in the arm during the assault and subsequently transported to a hospital for medical attention.
The local vigilante squad was apparently overpowered when the terrorists kidnapped the monarch and his son.
Only two vigilante members were on duty during the incident, according to sources, and they were unable to stop the heavily armed attackers.
In a related event, eight inhabitants were kidnapped during a late-night raid by suspected bandits that had earlier attacked the Adanla community in Ifelodun LGA on Friday, December 26, 2025.
According to locals, the attackers broke into the rural neighborhood at around 7:00 p.m. and began firing intermittently as they went from house to house, compelling the people to obey.
The Kwara State Police Command had not yet released a formal comment regarding the ransom demands as of the time of publication.
Local leaders and residents have persisted in urging state and federal officials to step up security measures and guarantee the safe return of all victims who have been kidnapped.
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