Kidnappers in Kwara Demand N400 Million, Drinks,Food as Ransom for 22 Captives
Over 22 people are currently held hostage by bandits in various communities across Kwara South, with captors demanding over N400 million, along with food and drinks, as ransom. Affected areas include Adanla, Isapa, Isanlu-Isin, and Owa-Onire, which lack strong military or police presence.
Sources say the bandits moved from better-secured communities such as Okeode and Babanla Eruku to less protected areas to continue their attacks. Among the captives are nine people in Afin, including the monarch Oba Simeon Olanipekun and his son Olaolu, nine in Isapa, two kidnapped on the Isanlu-Isin highway earlier this year, and two in Owa-Onire.
Oba AbdulRahman Fabiyi of Owa-Onire, who was kidnapped in 2024 and released after paying N5 million, confirmed that the two current captives in his community remain in bandits’ custody. “We have paid N2 million and negotiated down to N800,000 plus food and drinks before they can be released,” he said, urging the state government to establish a police station in Owa-Onire to curb kidnappings.
Oba Olanipekun recalled his ordeal, highlighting the difficulty security forces face due to the region’s vast forests and multiple escape routes used by bandits. “The forests are large, the routes are many, and they know them well. That’s why anyone attempting to escape is warned,” he said.
Zubair Olaitan, Coordinator of the Joint Security Watch for Kwara South, noted that the area’s terrain, porous borders, and support from locals make tracking and neutralising bandits challenging. He added that poor communication and coordination between security agencies and communities have hindered efforts.
Despite the challenges, the Kwara State Government and federal security agencies have deployed forest guards, launched joint patrols, and conducted operations that have neutralized several bandits and arrested suspects supplying them with w£apons, food, and other essentials.