A Kwara state monarch, Oba Simeon Ibiyinka Olaonipekun of Aafin Ile Ire, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, who was kidnapped by bandits on New Year’s Eve as regained his freedom.
The traditional monarch was reportedly freed after the kidnappers, who had detained him for a number of days, were paid a ransom. The ransom’s precise sum was not made public.
At the time of publication, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the Kwara State Police Command’s police public relations officer, was not available for comment.
Nonetheless, reports suggest that private and community donations were used to raise the ransom.
Recall that while the traditional ruler and other kidnapped citizens were still being kept captive in Kwara State’s Ifelodun Local Government Area, the son of the Oniwo of Afin was liberated after a N20 million ransom was paid to the kidnappers.
Following days in the hands of his kidnappers, Olaolu Olanipekun, a current National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, was freed on Monday.
After obtaining the ransom, the kidnappers released the young man, but they kept his father, Oba Olanipekun, and other victims they had taken during the same episode.
On December 32, 2025, armed men assaulted the palace in Aafin Ile-Ere, smashing down doors and firing intermittently before kidnapping the monarch and his son.
Felicia Olaonipekun, the Olori (Queen consort), was shot in the arm during the assault but managed to avoid being carried away. Later on, she was taken to the hospital for medical attention.
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