Gunmen who abducted a traditional ruler in Kwara State, the Oniwo of Aafin, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, his son, Olaolu, and eight other residents have demanded a total ransom of N450m for their release, PLATFORM TIMES has learnt.
A palace source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed on Friday that the abductors demanded N150m for the release of the monarch and his son, a member of the National Youth Service Corps, while an additional N300m was fixed for the eight villagers earlier kidnapped in Adanla-Irese, a community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.
Confirming the development, the Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, said negotiations had commenced with the kidnappers.
“Only two days ago, the kidnappers demanded N300m for the release of the Adanla abductees. Today, they asked for N150m for the monarch and his son,” he said.
The monarch was abducted on Wednesday night when armed men reportedly stormed his palace in Aafin community, Ile-Ire district of Ifelodun LGA, at about 8pm.
Eyewitnesses said about eight heavily armed men invaded the palace, firing sporadically to force their way in.
A family source said the attackers broke into the palace and demanded to see the monarch and his wife.
During the attack, the monarch’s wife, Felicia Olaonipekun, was shot in the arm and later rushed to a hospital for treatment.
The gunmen subsequently whisked away the traditional ruler and his son, as the local vigilante group on duty was reportedly overwhelmed.
Sources said only two vigilante members were on guard at the time and could not withstand the superior firepower of the attackers.
In a related incident, suspected bandits had on Boxing Day invaded Adanla community, abducting eight residents during a late evening raid.
Residents said the attackers stormed the agrarian community around 7pm, shooting sporadically as they moved from house to house, forcing villagers to comply.
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