Terrorists in Kwara South have demanded a total of over ₦400 million for the release of 22 captives, including a traditional ruler and a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The victims, taken from communities such as Adanla, Isapa, and Owa-Onire, are being held in deep forest hideouts while their captors demand large quantities of food and drinks in addition to the cash. The Olowa of Owa-Onire, Oba AbdulRahman Fabiyi—who was himself abducted and released last year—pleaded for an urgent police presence, noting that the bandits “operate freely” in areas without military checkpoints.
The situation has turned particularly grim in Isapa, where bandits reportedly mocked the community by describing a ₦4 million partial payment as “recharge card money.” The captors have threatened to execute the 11 captives from that zone if the remaining ₦35 million isn’t delivered. Security experts suggest the bandits migrated to these specific towns after the Federal Government established new military bases in neighboring Babanla and Eruku, highlighting a “security gap” in the porous borders of Kwara South.
Zubair Olaitan, Coordinator of the Joint Security Watch for Kwara South, stated that the region’s terrain—filled with caves and hills—provides a safe haven for the criminals. He acknowledged that while some suspects supplying the bandits with guns and food have been arrested, the sheer size of the forest makes tracking the core group difficult. The Kwara State Government has promised to deploy more forest guards, but for the families of the victims, the wait for the ₦300 million demanded for the Adanla nine is becoming a race against time.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has confirmed it is working with state authorities to secure the release of the abducted corper, Olaolu Olanipekun.
