Bandits storm Kwara neighborhood on New 12 months’s eve, abduct monarch and son
Bandits have kidnapped Oba S.Y. Olaonipekun, monarch of Aafin neighborhood, and one in all his sons, Olaolu, a serving Nationwide Youth Service Corps member, in Ifelodun native authorities space of Kwara State.
The incident occurred at about 8:00 pm on Wednesday within the Ile-Ire district, heightening concern amongst residents amid rising insecurity in Kwara south.
Eyewitnesses mentioned the attackers stormed the palace in Aafin Ile-Ere, firing sporadically and forcing their approach inside after breaking down doorways.
Throughout the assault, Felicia Olaonipekun, the queen consort, was shot within the arm however was not kidnapped. She was later rushed to a hospital for medical therapy.
A palace supply, who spoke on situation of anonymity, mentioned the gunmen demanded to see the monarch after realising that occupants had locked doorways and switched off lights.
The supply mentioned: “I observed some unusual actions outdoors round 8:00 pm and alerted these inside, however as soon as they realised this, they began taking pictures. They gained entrance, demanded to see the Kabiyesi, and later found Olaolu in hiding and seized him as properly.”
The supply mentioned not less than 10 members of the family and guests have been contained in the palace on the time of the assault.
Neighborhood vigilantes have been reportedly unable to confront the assailants, as solely two members have been on evening obligation.
“The vigilantes couldn’t do a lot as a result of they have been simply two on obligation and the gunmen got here straight to the palace,” the supply mentioned.
The kidnapping comes weeks after the Ojibara of Bayagan Ile in the identical native authorities space, Kamilu Salami, regained freedom after spending about 25 days in captivity.
Ayinla Lawal, spokesperson of the neighborhood, had mentioned the monarch was launched after a “enormous” ransom was paid in two instalments by residents.
“Our elders pleaded that we must always not disclose the quantity, nevertheless it was enormous and solely members of the neighborhood contributed,” Lawal mentioned.
Lawal added that the abductors initially rejected an earlier fee of N10 million and later demanded an extra N15 million earlier than releasing the monarch.