Gunmen Abduct Village Head in Kwara, Injure Wife in Daylight Attack

Gunmen abducted Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, the traditional ruler of Afin community in Babanla area of Kwara State, during a brazen attack on Friday day, January 2, 2026.The incident occurred around 10:00 a.m. when the assailants stormed Afin Village via Babanla, firing gunshots indiscriminately to frighten residents and clear the area.Sources confirmed that the attackers forcefully took the village head away, while his wife sustained gunshot wounds in the process. She was immediately rushed to General Hospital in Omu-Aran for urgent medical treatment.Security forces and local vigilantes were quickly deployed to the scene, launching a search operation to track the gunmen and secure the safe rescue of the abducted monarch.Authorities visited the attack site as part of ongoing efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent similar incidents in the region.Police have commenced a full investigation into the abduction, though no group has claimed responsibility and the motive remains unclear at this stage.

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