Concerns As Bandits Hold 22 In Kwara South, Demand ₦400 Million Ransom

No fewer than 22 persons are currently being held hostage by suspected bandits across several communities in Kwara South Senatorial District, with the criminals demanding an aggregate ransom of over ₦400 million, alongside food items and drinks, for their release.

Findings revealed that the affected communities include Adanla, Isapa, Isanlu-Isin and Owa-Onire, areas said to be outside the coverage of existing military and security emplacements established by the state and federal governments.

It was reliably gathered that the bandits recently migrated from communities such as Okeode, Babanla and Eruku, where the Federal Government had facilitated the establishment of military bases, to neighbouring settlements with little or no security presence.

Residents said the relocation has led to renewed waves of abductions, forcing communities to live in fear.

At least nine persons, including the monarch of Afin in Ile Ere District, Oba Simeon Olanipekun, and his son, Olaolu, a youth corps member abducted in December, are still in captivity.

Similarly, nine persons abducted in Isapa, two victims kidnapped along the Isanlu-Isin highway earlier this year, and two others seized in Owa-Onire in December are also being held by the bandits.

The Olowa of Owa-Onire, Oba AbdulRahman Fabiyi, who was himself abducted in 2024 and released after the payment of ₦5m, disclosed that two residents of his community abducted in December remain in captivity.

“I spoke with the two of them yesterday. We have paid them ₦2 million, and we have negotiated down to ₦800,000 with a list of foods and drinks they asked us to bring before the two persons can be released,” Vanguard quoted the monarch saying on Friday.

Lamenting the absence of security in the community, Fabiyi appealed to the state government to urgently facilitate the establishment of a police station in Owa-Onire.

“They always operate freely here. We don’t have the presence of security in Owa-Onire. Our fear is that once they finish the ransom money and food we supply, they will come back to abduct more people,” he said.

Recounting his ordeal in captivity, Oba Simeon Olanipekun said the vastness of the forests and multiple escape routes available to the bandits have made security operations difficult.

“The forest is extremely large, and the routes are many. They know the terrain very well because they have existed there for decades. That is why they always warn captives not to attempt escape,” he said.

According to him, the size and thickness of the forests have posed serious challenges to security agents.

“That is why I am pleading with the state government to provide adequate security for my people,” the monarch added.

Speaking on the development, the Coordinator of the Joint Security Watch for Kwara South Senatorial District, Zubair Olaitan, said arresting and neutralising bandits in the area has been challenging due to several factors.

“The region’s terrain, with vast forests, hills, caves and porous borders, provides a safe haven for these criminals,” he said.

Olaitan added that the bandits allegedly receive support from locals in the form of food, shelter and intelligence, making it harder for security agencies to track them.

“Lack of effective communication gadgets such as drones and poor coordination between security agencies and local communities have also hindered efforts,” he said.

However, he noted that the Kwara State Government, in collaboration with federal security agencies, had taken steps to address the situation.

“Forest guards have been deployed, and joint patrols are ongoing. Recent operations have yielded some successes, with bandits neutralised and suspects arrested for supplying guns, food and other essentials,” he added.

Olaitan disclosed that no progress had been made on the ₦300m ransom demanded by bandits for the release of nine persons abducted in Adanla community, Ifelodun Local Government Area, on Boxing Day, December 26, 2025.

“The bandits have made three contacts with community leaders, insisting that if the ₦300m is not paid, the victims will not be released,” he said.

The victims were abducted after the bandits failed in an attempt to kidnap the monarch of the community, King David Olarinoye, who was away in Igbaja at the time of the attack.

Isapa Community Groans Under ₦35 Million Demand

In Isapa, Ekiti Local Government Area, the Akeweje of Isapa land, Chief Idowu Sunday, said 11 persons are currently being held by bandits demanding ₦35m for their release.

He disclosed that a pregnant Hausa woman among the captives was recently brought on a motorcycle to a stream in Oro-Ago after she began experiencing labour contractions.

“The bandits initially demanded ₦300m, claiming they collected ₦350m to release those abducted at CAC Oke-Isegun in Eruku,” he said.

According to him, after negotiations, the demand was reduced to ₦35m, but when three community members went to deliver ₦4m, two of them were seized by the bandits.

“They called the money recharge card and captured the two men, making the number of captives 11. The third person escaped,” he said.

The traditional chief appealed to the state government for urgent intervention.

“We know what these bandits can do. We don’t want them to kill our people. The government should please come to our aid,” he pleaded.