- Kidnappers demand ₦450 million ransom for Kwara monarch and abducted residents
- ₦150m demanded for Oniwo of Aafin and his NYSC son
- ₦300m sought for eight residents kidnapped in Adanla-Irese
- Attacks heighten security fears in Kwara South
Abductors holding the Oniwo of Aafin, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, his son, and other residents in Kwara State have demanded a total ransom of ₦450 million for their release, deepening fears over the rising wave of kidnappings across the state.
Sources confirmed on Friday that the kidnappers contacted families of the victims, demanding ₦150 million for the release of the traditional ruler and his son, Olaolu, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps.
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An additional ₦300 million ransom was demanded for eight residents abducted from Adanla-Irese, a suburb of Igbaja in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
A family member of the monarch, who requested anonymity, said the call from the kidnappers came earlier in the day.
“The kidnappers contacted us this afternoon and demanded ₦150 million for Kabiesi and his son. Since the abduction on New Year’s Eve, our family has been living in fear and pain,” the source said.
The Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, confirmed the ransom demands, describing the situation as deeply troubling.
“It is true. The bandits demanded ₦150 million for the monarch and his son. Only two days earlier, ₦300 million was demanded for the Adanla abductees,” he said.
READ ALSO: Over 50 Bandits Attack Three Kebbi Communities, Eight Killed
The abduction of the monarch occurred on December 31, 2025, when about eight armed men stormed the palace in Aafin around 8 pm, firing gunshots and overpowering the community vigilantes.
During the attack, the monarch’s wife, Felicia Olaonipekun, was shot in the arm and rushed to the hospital, while the monarch and his son were taken away.
Similarly, on December 26, 2025, gunmen invaded Adanla community, abducting eight residents after moving from house to house and shooting sporadically.
The twin incidents have intensified concerns over worsening insecurity in Ifelodun, Isin, Edu, and other parts of Kwara South, which have witnessed a spike in kidnappings in recent months.
Reacting, the Kwara State Police Command said it was not aware of any ransom demand, warning that ransom payments only encourage criminal activities.
“Security agencies are working tirelessly to rescue abducted persons and dismantle criminal networks across the state,” police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi said.
Residents have continued to call on the state and federal governments to urgently boost security and ensure the safe return of all abducted victims.
