The Aniwo 1 of the Aafin community in the Ile-Ire District of the Ifelodun Local Government Area, Kwara State, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, and one of his sons, Olaolu, who is currently observing the National Youth Service Corps, have reportedly been kidnapped following a violent attack on the palace.
The incident comes less than two months after the abduction of the Ojibara of Bayagan-Ile from his home in the same Ifelodun LGA.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the attack on Olaonipekun occurred late on New Year’s Eve when about eight gunmen allegedly stormed the palace around 8 p.m., firing sporadically and demanding to see the monarch and his wife.
An insider who was within the palace premises during the attack told PUNCH Metro via telephone on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter that panic ensued as the assailants opened fire.
“Around 8 p.m., I noticed some strange movements outside and immediately alerted those inside. We started locking all the doors and switching off the inner lights, but when they realised what we were doing, they began shooting sporadically,” the source said.
The source said the gunmen forced their way into the palace by breaking down the door with their guns and demanded to see the Oba.
“They were about eight in number; I saw them from where I was hiding. They used their guns to break down the door, gained entrance and asked for Kabiesi, and he came out.
“They were also asking for his wife, but she had already been hit in the arm by a bullet during their attempt to gain entrance.
“The assailants also seized one of the monarch’s sons who came out from hiding with the Olori (queen),” the source added.
“We were about 10 people in the palace at the time, having come to spend the holiday with Kabiesi. 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,” the source explained.
The source added that the leader of the attackers spoke fluent English and appeared to be specifically targeting the monarch and his wife.
“The leader of the kidnappers spoke good English. The only people they asked for were Kabiesi and his wife. After they left, we quickly took the Olori to the hospital that same night,” he said.
He further disclosed that the town’s vigilante group could not repel the attackers because only two members were on duty at the time.
“The vigilantes could not do much because only two of them were on duty, and they could not match the firepower of the assailants. We have not heard anything from the kidnappers since they left with the Oba and his son. We are appealing to the government and security agencies to come to our aid,” he said.
The source also revealed that the incident was reported to police divisions in the area on the night of the attack.
“When we left Aafin that night, we reported at the Owu-Isin Divisional Police Station. On getting to Ijara-Isin, we also informed the police there. The joint local security network at Ikosin and the Kabiesi of Oke-Aba were equally informed,” he said.
When contacted on Thursday, the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the command was aware of the incident but that details were still being collated.
“I will get in touch with you immediately once I have detailed information about the incident,” she said.
The reported abduction comes amid a disturbing rise in insecurity in Kwara State, particularly in Ifelodun and other rural communities.
In late November, bandits abducted the Ojibara of Bayagan-Ile, Alhaji Kamilu Salami, from his farm in the same local government area, sparking fear and condemnation across the state.
The monarch was held in captivity for weeks before being released following community-led negotiations and the payment of a substantial ransom.
Security analysts say the increasing frequency of kidnappings, attacks on worshippers and assaults on rural leaders points to a growing escalation of banditry and criminal activity in forest-border communities of Kwara State.
Recent data indicate scores of abductions and killings linked to armed groups operating along the state’s borders with Niger and Kogi states, as well as internal flashpoints in Ifelodun, Patigi, Edu, Ekiti, Isin and other local government areas.
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