Suspected kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N450 million for the release of His Royal Highness, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, the traditional ruler of the Aafin community in the Ile Ere district of Kwara State, and his son, Olaolu. The abduction occurred on December 31, 2025, when eight armed assailants stormed the monarch’s palace around 20:00 local time, violently breaking down doors in their search for the royal family.
According to a family source, the attackers specifically requested to see the monarch and his wife, Felicia Olaonipekun, who sustained a gunshot wound to her arm during the raid. She was subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment. The assailants successfully abducted both the monarch and his son, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), while a local vigilante group, reportedly undermanned with only two members present, was unable to confront the heavily armed intruders.
The kidnappers have reportedly broken down the ransom into two parts: N150 million for the release of Oba Olaonipekun and his son, and an additional N300 million for eight residents abducted earlier from Adanla-Irese, a suburb of Igbaja within the Ifelodun Local Government Area. Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, the Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, confirmed these developments, stating that ransom negotiations have commenced for both sets of captives.
“They demanded N300 million for the Adanla abductees just two days prior. Today, they have now asked for N150 million for the monarch and his son,” Oyin-Zubair noted.
In a related incident, on December 26, 2025, other suspected bandits invaded the Adanla community, abducting eight residents during a raid that occurred around 19:00. According to community members, the attackers moved through the agrarian area, firing shots to instill fear and compliance among the residents.
As of now, the State Police Command has not released an official statement regarding the ransom demands. Residents and community leaders are urging both state and federal authorities to enhance security operations in the region to facilitate the safe return of all abducted individuals.
The ongoing situation highlights the persistent security challenges faced by communities in Kwara State and the urgent need for effective law enforcement responses to combat rising criminal activities.
