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Kwara Bandits Demand ₦400m, Food, Supplies for Release of 22 Hostages
No fewer than 22 people are currently being held by bandits across several communities in Kwara South, with the abductors demanding a combined ransom exceeding ₦400 million, alongside food items and drinks, for their release.
The affected areas include Adanla, Isapa, Isanlu-Isin and Owa-Onire—communities reportedly lacking sustained military or security presence. Investigations reveal that the criminal groups relocated from places such as Okeode, Babanla and Eruku, where federal authorities had earlier established military formations, to more vulnerable locations with minimal security coverage.
Victims in Captivity
Among those still in captivity are nine individuals from Afin in the Ile-Ere district, including the traditional ruler, Oba Simeon Olanipekun, and his son, Olaolu. Also being held are nine persons abducted in Isapa, two kidnapped along the Isanlu-Isin highway earlier this year, and two others taken from Owa-Onire in December.
The Olowa of Owa-Onire, Oba AbdulRahman Fabiyi—himself a former kidnap victim who regained freedom in 2024 after paying ₦5 million—confirmed that two residents abducted in December remain with the bandits. He disclosed that while ₦2 million had already been paid, negotiations reduced the balance to ₦800,000, along with specific food and drink items demanded by the abductors.
Lamenting the absence of security infrastructure in his community, the monarch urged the Kwara State Government to urgently establish a police station in Owa-Onire to curb the rising wave of kidnappings. He warned that without security presence, residents remain exposed to repeated attacks once ransom supplies are exhausted.
Security Challenges Explained
Oba Olanipekun, recounting his ordeal in captivity, attributed the difficulty in confronting the bandits to the vast and dense forests in the area, coupled with numerous escape routes known only to the criminals. He appealed to the state government to strengthen security deployment to protect vulnerable communities.
Providing further insight, the Coordinator of the Joint Security Watch for Kwara South Senatorial District, Zubair Olaitan, said the terrain—characterised by thick forests, hills, caves and porous borders—has made bandit operations difficult to contain. He added that alleged support from some locals, poor surveillance technology and weak coordination have further complicated security efforts.
Despite these challenges, Olaitan said the state government, working with federal agencies, has intensified interventions through the deployment of forest guards and joint patrols. He noted that recent operations have led to the neutralisation of several bandits and arrests of individuals supplying them with weapons and logistics.
Stalled Negotiations, Growing Threats
Meanwhile, no progress has been recorded in talks with bandits demanding ₦300 million for the release of nine victims abducted in Adanla, Ifelodun Local Government Area, on Boxing Day, December 26, 2025. The victims were seized after a failed attempt to abduct the community’s monarch, Oba David Olarinoye, who was away at the time.
Similarly, in Isapa, Ekiti Local Government Area, 11 people remain in captivity, with abductors insisting on ₦35 million for their release. The Akeweje of Isapa land, Chief Idowu Sunday, revealed that attempts to deliver ₦4 million resulted in two emissaries being abducted, increasing the number of captives. He added that the bandits have issued threats of mass killings if their demands are not met.
Community leaders across the affected areas have renewed calls for urgent state intervention, warning that continued inaction could lead to further loss of lives and deepening insecurity in Kwara South.
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved a new round of appointments and promotions with immediate effect, as part of efforts to strengthen governance and enhance institutional performance in the state.
The development was announced in a statement released on Monday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.
According to the statement, Abubakar Ibrahim Matawalle has been appointed as the Acting Director-General of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board. Matawalle, a retired permanent secretary, previously served in a similar role and also held office as the board’s executive secretary. He was described as a seasoned administrator who rose through the civil service ranks from Assistant Secretary to Permanent Secretary before retiring in 2014, after eight years in the position. The statement noted his strong track record in the effective management of Hajj operations.
Governor Yusuf also approved the promotion of Yusuf Mukhtar to the rank of Permanent Secretary.
In another appointment, Barrister Rahama Malam Alhaji was named Provost of the Kano State Anti-Corruption Institute. She was praised as an accomplished legal practitioner with over seven years’ experience spanning litigation, corporate law, electricity law, regulatory compliance and dispute resolution. The statement highlighted her professional background across both public and private sectors, including her time at the Kano Electricity Distribution Company and her role as Head of the School of Law at Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria. She holds a Master of Laws degree in International Law and was credited with pioneering initiatives such as the establishment of a Law Clinic and a Student Bar Association.
The governor further approved the promotion of veteran Kannywood actress Aina’u Ade from Special Assistant to Senior Special Assistant on Kannywood Affairs, citing her impressive performance and dedication in her previous assignment.
The statement said the latest appointments and promotions reflect the administration’s resolve to reinforce governance structures and ensure the efficient management of public institutions. Governor Yusuf urged the beneficiaries to justify the confidence reposed in them through diligence, transparency and unwavering commitment to the Kano First Agenda.
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has issued a public alert over a fraudulent LinkedIn account impersonating its Director-General, Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa, urging Nigerians to disregard and report any communication linked to the fake profile.
In a statement released on Saturday by the Institute’s Media Consultant, Mr Sam Eferaro, NIMR disclosed that the impostor account has been sending misleading messages to unsuspecting individuals, falsely offering procurement opportunities, contracts and other business-related engagements.
According to the statement, the attention of the Institute was drawn to the existence of the fake LinkedIn profile posing as the Director-General, adding that all messages emanating from the account are entirely fraudulent.
NIMR cautioned members of the public against engaging with any messages purportedly sent by Professor Obafunwa through LinkedIn or other unofficial platforms, particularly those soliciting business dealings or financial commitments.
The Institute further emphasised that all legitimate interactions with vendors, contractors, partners and the public are conducted strictly through recognised and official institutional channels, in line with established public service procedures.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has dismissed calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria demanding the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made concerning genocide.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN described the demand as unfounded and unjustifiable, stressing that Prof. Amupitan, like every Nigerian, is constitutionally entitled to express opinions on matters of national interest, regardless of his public office.
The Fellowship maintained that the remarks attributed to the INEC chairman had no link to his official duties, noting that they were unrelated to elections or electoral processes, which fall within the scope of his professional responsibilities.
“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a citizen of Nigeria, has the right to speak on issues he perceives as affecting the nation, irrespective of his appointment or position,” the statement said.
PFN further condemned suggestions that the INEC chairman should be removed on the basis of personal views expressed outside his official mandate, warning that such actions could set a dangerous precedent where public officials are penalised for holding or expressing independent opinions.
The organisation also cautioned against interpreting national discourse through religious perspectives, arguing that such an approach risks deepening societal divisions and threatening peaceful coexistence.
“We must guard against profiling individuals or judging them based on religious considerations. Prof. Amupitan has the right to express his views, and this should not come at the expense of his office,” the statement added.
The Fellowship urged stakeholders to exercise restraint and mutual respect in addressing sensitive national issues, emphasising that unity, fairness, and peaceful engagement must remain central to public discourse.
PFN reaffirmed its commitment to justice and national cohesion, calling on Nigerians to uphold democratic values in responding to differing opinions on matters affecting the country.