Relief came to Afin community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State on Monday with the release of Olaolu, son of the Oniwo of Afin, Oba Simeon Olanipekun, weeks after he was whisked away by armed bandits.
Olaolu, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was abducted on December 31, 2025, alongside his father and several residents when gunmen stormed the royal palace in the Ile-Ere district during a violent New Year’s Eve attack.
Authoritative security sources confirmed the youth corps member’s freedom in Ilorin but were guarded on the circumstances surrounding his release, declining to state whether any ransom was paid. The monarch and other abductees remain in captivity, with the kidnappers reportedly insisting on a ransom running into millions of naira.
The bandits had earlier threatened dire consequences, vowing to kill either the traditional ruler or his son should the community fail to meet their demands—an ultimatum that heightened tension across the area.
Eyewitness accounts paint a chilling picture of the night of the attack. Around 8pm, about eight armed men reportedly descended on the palace, firing shots and forcing their way into the building. A family source said the attackers appeared to have come with a clear mission.
“Once we noticed unusual movements outside, we locked doors and switched off the lights, but they started shooting immediately,” the source recounted. “They broke in and demanded to see the Kabiyesi.”
The monarch reportedly presented himself, while the assailants also demanded to see his wife, Olori Felicia Olanipekun, who sustained a gunshot injury to the arm during the chaos and was rushed to hospital later that night.
Olaolu was said to have been taken after emerging from his hiding place, as other family members and visitors sought cover within the palace. The community’s vigilante group was overwhelmed, with only two operatives on duty at the time and outgunned by the attackers.
Security agencies across neighbouring divisions were alerted shortly after the incident, alongside local security networks and traditional rulers in nearby communities.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official word on direct contact with the abductors. However, the release of the monarch’s son has renewed cautious optimism, even as residents urge the state government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the freedom of the traditional ruler and others still held by the bandits.
