- 83-year-old Pa Adeyemi Simon Aremu recounts a harrowing kidnapping, as late Olukoro of Koro, General Segun Aremu (rtd), is brutally shot dead
- Kidnappers demand N100 million ransom for remaining captives; community in southern Kwara remains on edge, awaiting resolution
In a tragic incident in Kwara State, 83-year-old Pa Adeyemi Simon Aremu recounted the horrifying ordeal of being kidnapped alongside the late Olukoro of Koro, General Segun Aremu (rtd). The monarch was brutally shot dead during a palace invasion, leaving the community in shock.
Aremu, a retired pastor, detailed the harrowing experience of the abduction, which took place amid the chaos of sporadic gunshots. Recalling the events, he stated, “I was having my dinner when suddenly six armed men entered my house and ordered me to follow them.” The assailants, after taking him captive, discovered Olukoro’s wife, Olori, and another individual named Feranmi hiding under an Orange tree. The three captives were then forcibly taken into the forest, with gunfire echoing around them.
As the situation escalated, Aremu described the terrifying moments when he lost the energy to flee and the kidnappers began dragging him to the ground. Eventually, they reached a point in the forest where, unexpectedly, one of the abductors instructed him to stand up and return home. Aremu, fearful for his life, complied, uncertain of the kidnappers’ intentions. It was upon his return that he discovered the tragic fate of the Olukoro, who lay lifeless in a pool of blood.
The Chairman of the Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) for the council, Mr. Kayode Bayode, revealed that the bandits were demanding a hefty N100 million ransom for the release of the remaining captives, including the Olukoro’s wife and others. Bayode acknowledged the panic gripping the community but noted that heightened security measures had contributed to a semblance of calm.
Reports indicate that the kidnappers have given the family of the late monarch a 48-hour ultimatum to raise the ransom money. The community, located in the southern part of Kwara and bordering Ekiti State, remains on edge as authorities navigate the delicate situation.