More than 22 residents across several communities in Kwara South are being held hostage by armed bandits, with captors demanding over ₦400 million in addition to food and drinks for their release, sources say. Affected communities include Adanla, Isapa, Isanlu-Isin, and Owa-Onire, areas reportedly lacking a strong police or military presence.
According to local reports, the bandits shifted their operations from better-secured towns such as Okeode and Babanla Eruku to more vulnerable areas to continue their attacks. Among those abducted are nine people in Afin, including the monarch Oba Simeon Olanipekun and his son Olaolu, nine in Isapa, two previously kidnapped on the Isanlu-Isin highway, and two in Owa-Onire.
Oba AbdulRahman Fabiyi of Owa-Onire, who was kidnapped in 2024 and released after paying ₦5 million, confirmed that the two current captives in his community remain in the bandits’ custody. “We have paid ₦2 million and negotiated down to ₦800,000 plus food and drinks before they can be released,” he said, urging the state government to establish a police station in Owa-Onire to curb further kidnappings.
Oba Olanipekun described the challenges posed by the dense forests and numerous escape routes in the region, which allow bandits to evade capture. “The forests are large, the routes are many, and they know them well. That’s why anyone attempting to escape is warned,” he said.
Zubair Olaitan, Coordinator of the Joint Security Watch for Kwara South, highlighted that the area’s difficult terrain, porous borders, and support from some local residents make tracking and neutralizing bandits particularly challenging. He also noted that weak communication and poor coordination between security agencies and communities have hindered response efforts.
Despite these obstacles, the Kwara State Government and federal security agencies have deployed forest guards, launched joint patrols, and conducted operations that have neutralized several bandits and arrested suspects allegedly supplying them with weapons, food, and other resources. Authorities continue to work toward the safe release of all hostages and the restoration of security in the region.