Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
ABUJA/ILORIN — The Oniwo of Afin, Oba Simeon Olanipekun, a traditional ruler from Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, has regained his freedom after being held captive for over a month, family sources and multiple news reports say. The monarch was abducted alongside his son during a violent raid on his palace on December 31, 2025, a high-profile abduction that underscored rising insecurity in parts of southern Kwara.
According to family sources cited in verified reports, Oba Olanipekun was released late on Wednesday night following the payment of an additional ₦12 million ransom, bringing the total ransom reportedly paid to about ₦32 million. This includes an earlier payout of ₦20 million that secured the release of his son, Olaolu Olanipekun, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps, who was freed two weeks before the monarch.
The monarch’s return to his community came after negotiations with the abductors, who had held the traditional ruler in forest hideouts in the Ile-Ire district of Ifelodun Local Government Area. A community source told reporters that Oba Olanipekun was dropped off by his captors near a herders’ settlement in Oreke before being taken to a nearby military base, where security agents contacted his family upon his arrival. The monarch was said to be in good spirits and receiving medical attention following his ordeal.
Residents of the Afin community and surrounding areas welcomed the development with relief, noting that the incident had heightened fears amid a wave of kidnappings and bandit attacks in parts of Kwara State. Community leaders have since reiterated calls for enhanced security measures following months of insecurity, particularly in rural sections of the state.
The Kwara State Police Command, while confirming the monarch’s release, has publicly denied knowledge of any ransom payment, attributing the outcome instead to intensified joint security operations against criminal elements in the area. A spokesperson for the command urged families affected by kidnapping to work with security agencies and provide credible information rather than relying on ransom negotiations.
The successful release of Oba Olanipekun and his son — against the backdrop of initial demands reportedly reaching as high as **₦450 million for multiple abductees, including community residents — highlights the complex challenges of insecurity facing rural communities in Nigeria.
The monarch’s safe return is seen locally as a positive development for community morale, though concerns remain about future threats and the broader strategies needed to curb armed kidnappings in the region.
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