March 6, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
Nine villagers who were abducted by armed bandits in Kwara State in late 2025 have finally regained their freedom after spending several months in captivity, following the payment of a ₦40 million ransom by their community and family members.
According to local sources, the victims were released on Thursday night after prolonged negotiations with their abductors. The nine individuals had been kidnapped on December 26, 2025, during a violent raid on the Adanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The attackers reportedly stormed the palace of the community’s traditional ruler while searching for the monarch and his wife. When they could not find the royal couple, the gunmen abducted several residents and marched them into a nearby forest. The incident triggered widespread fear across the community and surrounding areas.
Community members later mobilized resources to raise the ransom demanded by the kidnappers. Although the ₦40 million ransom was reportedly paid weeks earlier, the victims were not immediately released, leaving families and residents in prolonged anxiety about their fate.
For weeks, relatives feared the worst as the abductors continued to hold the captives despite receiving the payment. Appeals were made to the Kwara State Government and security agencies to intervene and secure their release.
A community source confirmed that the victims were eventually freed after months in captivity and were reunited with their families late Thursday. Their release brought relief to residents who had spent months hoping for their safe return.
The incident highlights the growing insecurity in several parts of Nigeria’s North-Central region, where kidnappings for ransom have become increasingly common. Communities are often forced to negotiate directly with armed groups and raise large sums of money to secure the release of abducted residents.
Security experts and civil society groups have repeatedly warned that ransom payments may further encourage criminal gangs and armed groups to intensify kidnapping operations across the country.
Residents of Adanla community are now calling on the government and security agencies to strengthen protection in rural areas to prevent future attacks and ensure that villagers can live without fear of abduction.