Kidnappers holding a traditional ruler in Kwara State, his son and other residents of Ifelodun Local Government Area have demanded a total ransom of N450 million for their release, deepening fear across the affected communities.
Sources said the abductors are demanding N150 million for the Oniwo of Aafin, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, and his son, Olaolu, who is currently serving as a member of the National Youth Service Corps.
An additional N300 million ransom was reportedly demanded for eight other residents abducted in Adanla Irese, a suburb of Igbaja.
A family source of the monarch confirmed that the kidnappers made contact earlier on Friday, saying the family had been under severe emotional strain since the abduction on New Year’s Eve.
“The kidnappers contacted the family this afternoon and told us to bring N150 million to secure the release of Kabiyesi and his son,” the source said.
The source added that the family had entered the new year in distress. “Since this incident happened, we have not been ourselves. We entered the new year with sorrow and tears. We are calling on the government and security agencies to come to our aid because we don’t know what to do,” he said.
The Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, Elder Olaitan Oyin Zubair, also confirmed the ransom demand. “Yes, it is true. The bandits contacted the family this afternoon and demanded N150 million for the release of Kabiyesi and his son. Only two days ago, N300 million was demanded for the release of the Adanla abductees,” he said.
The monarch was abducted on December 31, 2025, when gunmen reportedly stormed Aafin community in the Ile Ire district of Ifelodun LGA around 8 pm. A family source said about eight armed men attacked the palace, firing sporadically and forcing their way inside.
“When they noticed we were locking doors and switching off lights, they started shooting. They broke the door with their guns and forced their way in,” the source said.
During the attack, the monarch’s wife, Felicia Olaonipekun, was shot in the arm and later rushed to hospital for treatment.
The attackers reportedly overpowered the local vigilante group before abducting the monarch and his son.
“Only two vigilante members were on duty, and they could not match the firepower of the attackers,” the source added.
In a related incident, suspected bandits invaded Adanla community on December 26, 2025, abducting eight residents after storming the area in large numbers. Residents said the gunmen fired sporadically as they moved from house to house, forcing people into submission.
The twin abductions have heightened anxiety over the worsening security situation in parts of Kwara State, especially in Ifelodun, Isin, Edu and other areas in Kwara South, where kidnapping incidents have increased in recent months.
In November 2025, the Ojibara of Bayagan Ile, Alhaji Kamilu Salami, was abducted from his farm in the same local government area and held for weeks before regaining freedom after the payment of a ransom.
Efforts to get official comments from the Kwara State Police Command on the latest ransom demand were unsuccessful as of press time. However, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, said the command was not aware of any ransom request.
“We are not aware of any requests for ransom to free abducted persons in the state. The Commissioner of Police has repeatedly stated that the payment of ransom encourages and emboldens criminal elements to intensify their activities,” she said.
She added that security agencies were working continuously to rescue abducted persons and restore peace in the state.
Meanwhile, residents of the affected communities have renewed calls on the state and federal governments to urgently strengthen security presence and ensure the safe release of all abducted victims.
