Kwara Residents Accuse Government, Security Forces Of Abandoning Nine Kidnap Victims Despite N40m Ransom

Ilorin, Kwara State– Residents of Adanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have accused security operatives and the state government of abandoning nine villagers who remain in captivity months after bandits abducted them and the community reportedly paid over N40 million as ransom.

A source in the community told Afrika Eyes on Friday that the victims have been in the custody of the terrorists since  December 2025, despite the huge ransom payment made by residents in an attempt to secure their freedom.

The nine victims were abducted on December 26, 2025, when armed terrorists stormed the palace of the community’s monarch, Oba Olarinoye, in Adanla.

According to residents, the attackers had specifically come to kidnap the monarch and his queen but did not find them at the palace during the invasion.

The monarch was said to have travelled to Igbaja town for an event when the bandits arrived at the palace on the day of the attack.

Unable to find the traditional ruler and his wife, the terrorists allegedly abducted nine residents who were present at the palace and forced them into the surrounding forest.

Despite efforts by the community to negotiate with the abductors and the reported payment of more than N40 million as ransom, the victims are still being held by the bandits several months later.

Community members have expressed frustration over lack of decisive intervention by security agencies.

“Our official security agencies aren’t proactive. Imagine paying over N40 million to get the release of the Adanla abductees since December 26 last year, yet they are still in captivity,” the source lamented.

Residents say the prolonged captivity of the victims has heightened fear in the community, while calling on security operatives and the Kwara State Government to urgently intervene and ensure the safe return of the abductees.

Afrika Eyes had reported that terrorists have released Oba Kamilu Salami, Ojibara of Bayagan-Ile community in Ifelodun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State, after he spent 25 days in captivity, SaharaReporters has gathered.

The traditional ruler was freed after his family and community members paid ransom to his abductors.

Speaking with Afrika Eyes, Alhaji Rafiu Ayinla Lawal, a senior member of the royal family, disclosed that residents of Ojibara, both at home and in the diaspora, jointly raised the ransom that secured the monarch’s release.

According to him, an initial ransom was paid when the monarch had spent about 15 days with the terrorists, but despite collecting the money, the abductors refused to release him.

“We paid ransom when he spent 15 days with the terrorists. They collected the money but refused to free him. We had to contribute again, and the second payment was delivered yesterday before he was finally released,” Lawal said.

He added that Oba Kamilu was immediately taken to a hospital in the Kwara State capital for medical attention following his ordeal.

He also disclosed that the monarch’s phone had been taken from him to allow him adequate rest under medical care.

Members of the royal family and the Ojibara community expressed disappointment over what they described as the Kwara State government’s failure to intervene.

They told Afrika Eyes that neither the state government nor security agencies contributed to the ransom or made any serious effort to secure the monarch’s freedom.

“We, the family and the entire community, contributed to get our king free. No one from the government or the security agencies made any attempt to rescue him from the terrorists,” the family said.

The abduction and eventual release of the monarch add to growing concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of Kwara State and the increasing burden placed on communities to negotiate directly with armed groups for the release of abducted victims.