A traditional ruler and his son have been kidnapped in Kwara State, Nigeria, with the perpetrators demanding a ransom of N450 million for their release. His Royal Highness, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, the monarch of the Aafin community in the Ile Ere district, and his son, Olaolu, were abducted on December 31, 2025, around 20:00 in the monarch’s palace. Reports indicate that eight armed assailants forcibly entered the palace, breaking down doors while demanding to see the monarch and his wife.
During the violent encounter, the monarch’s wife, Felicia Olaonipekun, sustained a gunshot wound to her arm and required immediate medical attention. Following the attack, the kidnappers took both the monarch and his son, overwhelming the local vigilante group that was present at the time. Sources revealed that only two members of the vigilante group were on duty and were unable to confront the armed attackers.
According to reliable sources, the kidnappers have split their ransom demands. They have requested N150 million for the release of Oba Olaonipekun and his son, while an additional N300 million has been demanded for eight other residents abducted earlier from the Adanla-Irese area in Ifelodun Local Government Area. Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, the Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, confirmed these developments and stated that negotiations for both sets of abductees have commenced.
“The kidnappers initially demanded N300 million for the Adanla abductees just two days ago, and now they are asking for N150 million for the monarch and his son,” Oyin-Zubair noted, highlighting the severity of the situation for the affected communities.
The incident involving the Adanla community occurred on December 26, 2025, when armed bandits raided the area, abducting eight residents during a late evening assault. Witnesses reported that the attackers invaded the agrarian community around 19:00, firing indiscriminately as they moved from one house to another, compelling residents to comply with their demands.
As of the latest updates, the State Police Command has not issued an official statement regarding the ransom demands. In the face of these alarming incidents, residents and community leaders are calling on both state and federal authorities to intensify security measures and ensure the safe return of all abducted individuals. The ongoing crisis underscores the persistent security challenges faced by communities in the region, prompting urgent action from local and national leaders.
