Terrorists have kidnapped Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, the Aniwo 1 of Aafin village, Ile-Ire District, Ifelodun Local Government Area, Kwara State, and one of his sons, Olaolu, who is now serving in the National Youth Service Corps.
According to reports, the terrorists’ attack occurred late on Wednesday night, New Year’s Eve, when a group of about eight shooters allegedly stormed the palace about 8 p.m., shooting intermittently and demanding to meet the monarch and his wife.
A family member who was inside the palace when the attack occurred told The PUNCH by phone on Thursday that pandemonium erupted when the perpetrators started the fire.
“Around 8pm, I noticed some strange movements outside, and I immediately alerted those inside. We started locking all the doors and switching off inner lights, but when they realized what we were doing, they began shooting sporadically,” the source said.
Speaking under the condition of anonymity, the source said the gunmen forced their way into the palace by breaking down the door with guns and demanded to see the Oba.
“They are about eight in number because I saw them from where I was hiding. They used their guns to break down the door, gained entrance, and requested the Kabiesi, and he came out.
“They were asking for his wife too, but she has been hit with a bullet in the arm during their attempt to gain entrance,” the source said.
The terrorists also abducted one of the monarch’s sons who came out from hiding with the Olori (queen), the source added.
“We were about 10 in the palace around that time to come spend the holiday with Kabiesi, so everyone was hiding during the incident. One of the sons who was with the Olori came out to avoid casualties as they were shooting and breaking down doors,” he said.
He also revealed that the leader of the attackers spoke very good English and appeared to be targeting the monarch and his wife specifically.
“The leader of the kidnappers spoke good English, and the only thing they were asking for was the Kabiesi, and when he came out, they were asking for his wife too.
“After they left, we quickly took the Olori to the hospital yesterday night,” the source said.
He stated that the town vigilante could not repel the attackers, as only two members were on duty as of the time.
“The town vigilante could not do much because there were two that came out that time, and they couldn’t match the firepower of the assailants.
“We have not heard anything from them since they left with the Oba and his son. We are appealing to the government and security agencies to come to our aid,” the source said.
The source also revealed that the matter was reported to police divisions in the area on the night of the attack.
“When we left Aafin last night, we made a report at the Owu Isin Divisional Police, and also when we got to Ijara Isin, we informed the police there too. The joint local security network at Ikosin was also informed, as was the Kabiesi of Oke Aba,” he said.
When contacted on Thursday, Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi stated that the command was aware of the occurrence but that more information was being gathered.
“I will get in touch with you immediately once I have detailed information about the incident,” she told me.
The claimed kidnapping comes amid a worrying increase in insecurity in Kwara State, notably in Ifelodun and other rural areas.
In late November, bandits kidnapped the Ojibara of Bayagan-Ile, Alhaji Kamilu Salami, from his property in the same local government area, instilling terror and condemnation throughout the state.
The king was held captive for several weeks before being released via community-led talks and the payment of a large ransom.
Security specialists say the frequency of kidnappings, attacks on worshippers, and assaults on rural leaders indicates an increase in banditry and criminal activity in Kwara’s forest-border areas.
Recent data show a number of abductions and deaths tied to armed groups operating along the state’s borders with Niger and Kogi, as well as internal flashpoints in Ifelodun, Patigi, Edu, Ekiti, Isin, and other local councils.
