The son of a traditional ruler was released on Monday after his family paid a ransom of ₦20 million, but the monarch and several other captives remain in the hands of bandits who continue to press for further payments.
The freed victim, Olaolu Olanipekun, is a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the son of Oba Simeon Olanipekun, the Oniwo of Afin in the Ile-Ere district of the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. He regained his freedom after intense negotiations between the family and the kidnappers, a source close to the family told PUNCH Metro on Tuesday on condition of anonymity.
“It is true the prince was released on Monday morning after we paid ₦20m. They dropped him at a herders’ settlement around Oreke in Ifelodun Local Government Area. From there, he was taken to the military base in Oreke, where they contacted us,” the source disclosed.
According to the family source, Olaolu was taken to a military base in Oreke after his release, from where he was handed over to relatives. He is currently receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital as he recuperates from both physical injuries and psychological trauma sustained during his captivity.
Olaolu’s liberation came as a temporary relief for the royal household and residents of the Ile-Ere community, but the joy was tempered by the continued detention of Oba Simeon Olanipekun and other hostages. According to the source, the kidnappers are now demanding an additional ₦15 million for the monarch’s release.
The abduction of the monarch’s son is part of a broader pattern of kidnappings targeting community leaders and residents in Kwara’s rural communities. Earlier reports have documented similar attacks where traditional rulers and other civilians were seized by armed bandits in the region.
Security experts and community leaders have repeatedly raised concerns about the escalating insecurity in forested and border areas of Kwara State, pointing to the evolving tactics of criminal groups that operate across local government boundaries and exploit strained policing resources.
According to corroborating reports from other Nigerian news outlets, the attack on Oba Olanipekun and his son took place on December 31, 2025, when armed gunmen stormed the traditional ruler’s palace in Ile-Ere, shooting sporadically and overwhelming the community’s limited vigilante presence. During the assault, the monarch’s wife, Queen Felicia Olaonipekun, was reportedly shot in the arm while trying to escape and was later treated in hospital.
In similar recent incidents, kidnappers in the area have issued substantial ransom demands for the release of detained individuals, with figures ranging into the hundreds of millions of naira for combined groups of captives. Negotiations are often protracted and fraught with anxiety for families and entire communities.
While no official statement has yet been issued by the Kwara State Government or the Nigeria Police Force regarding the latest ransom payment or the status of Oba Olanipekun and other captives, community members and observers are urging a more robust security response to curb the pattern of kidnappings and restore safety to rural areas.
As Olaolu continues his recovery, attention now turns to ongoing efforts to secure the release of the traditional ruler and other hostages, underscoring the persistent challenges posed by banditry and insecurity in parts of northern and central Nigeria.
