Gunmen who stormed the palace of the Oniwo of Aafin in Kwara State on December 31, have established contact with the victims’ families, demanding a total of ₦450 million for the release of ten hostages.
The captives include Oba Simeon Olaonipekun and his son, Olaolu, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), alongside eight residents from the nearby Adanla-Irese community.
Traditional rulers, once seen as untouchable, are being targeted as high-value assets by armed groups seeking massive payouts.
The abductors are asking for ₦150 million for the monarch and his son, and a separate ₦300 million for the eight residents taken from Adanla-Irese.
In Aafin, only two local vigilantes were on duty on New Year’s Eve to protect the entire palace.The attack was carried out by eight gunmen who overshadowed the two vigilantes. During the struggle, the Queen Consort, Felicia Olaonipekun, was shot in the arm and is currently receiving medical treatment.
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 – A Family member of the Monarch
The Kwara State Police Command stated that it is not aware of any formal ransom demands, restating that the state discourages payments to kidnappers to avoid fueling future attacks.
The Commissioner of Police has repeatedly stated that the payment of ransom encourages and emboldens criminal elements… The police are working round the clock to rescue abducted persons – SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, Kwara Police PPRO
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