By Ayomide Otitoju
Kidnappers holding the Oniwo of Aafin, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, his son, and eight other residents in Kwara State have demanded a total ransom of ₦450 million for their release, raising fresh concerns over the state’s deteriorating security situation.
Sources confirmed on Friday that the abductors are seeking ₦150 million for the release of the monarch and his son, Olaolu, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps, while an additional ₦300 million has been demanded for the eight residents kidnapped from Adanla-Irese, a suburb of Igbaja in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, confirmed that negotiations have begun for both groups of abductees. “Only two days ago, the kidnappers demanded ₦300 million for the Adanla abductees. Today, they demanded ₦150 million for the monarch and his son,” he said.
The monarch was abducted on Wednesday night, December 31, 2025, when gunmen stormed the royal palace in Aafin community, Ile-Ire district, at about 8 pm. Eyewitnesses said eight armed men fired sporadically and forced entry into the palace. “They broke down the doors with their guns and demanded to see the monarch and his wife,” a family source said.
During the attack, the monarch’s wife, Felicia Olaonipekun, was shot in the arm and taken to a hospital for treatment. The attackers subsequently abducted the monarch and his son, while the local vigilante group—then understaffed with only two members on duty—was unable to resist the heavily armed assailants.
In a related incident, suspected bandits had earlier, on Friday, December 26, invaded Adanla community in Ifelodun LGA, abducting eight residents during a late evening raid. Witnesses said the attackers moved from house to house, firing sporadically and forcing compliance from residents.
As of Friday, the Kwara State Police Command had not issued an official statement regarding the ransom demands. Community leaders and residents continue to appeal to state and federal authorities to intensify security operations and ensure the safe release of all abducted victims.
