Abducted monarch regains freedom after ransom payment

The Ojibara of Bayagan Ile, Alhaji Kamilu Salami, abducted on November 29, 2025, while working on his farm in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State has been released after the payment of a huge ransom, Vanguard is reporting.

According to available information, the monarch, abducted on his farm on a Saturday morning, was released on Tuesday.

Residents of the community have been thrown into a frenzy of joy and happiness following the release of the monarch.The palace was reportedly bombarded with jubilant residents, who crowded to catch a glimpse of their monarch, and more importantly congratulate him and the family for safe return to the palace.

Ayinla Lawal, the community spokesperson, confirmed the development in a message to Vanguard on Wednesday morning.

He told Vanguard in an interview that the monarch was released after a huge amount of money, paid in two installments, was paid to the bandits.Ayinla added that only the community raked in the huge amount demanded by the bandits before the release of the monarch.

According to him, “I’m happy to inform you that our monarch has been released, he was released on Tuesday night.“Our elders and members of the community have pleaded that we should not mention the amount, so I won’t be able to tell you the amount, but it was huge.“The local government and state government didn’t come to our rescue throughout our ordeal.

“Only members of the community contributed the amount, it was really tough for us in the community, and that was why it took a longer time before our monarch was released.“Above all, we thank Almighty God that he came back alive, and we also thank the media, and members of the community for their support.”

Ayinla who expressed confidence that the bandits won’t strike again in the community, said more Vigilantes and hunters have been recruited to keep vigil on the community.He also believed that with these developments, residents who fled the community would start returning to the community.

More so, he noted that the monarch has been brought to Ilorin Wednesday morning for urgent medical attention.The monarch’s immediate younger brother, simply identified as Aliyu who drove the monarch to an undisclosed private hospital in Ilorin also confirmed the development to Vanguard Wednesday morning in an interview.

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Aliyu, who the community sent to pay the ransom on the two installments, said he was scared at a point to visit the bandits because of the fear of being kidnapped.

“Their location is very far, one can’t believe that the place is still part of Kwara state, you can’t even describe or locate the place because they move around the terrain, they don’t stay in a particular point.

“They used to speak with me on Kabiesi’s phone to inform me where I should meet them.“I can’t even identify any of them because they’re always on hood.

At that point, I was seriously afraid and I told the community that I couldn’t go again, but they told me that I’m the only person that would go, being the monarch’s immediate younger brother, so I was encouraged.

“Thank Almighty God,I was not detained by the bandits and our monarch is back alive.”Efforts by Vanguard to speak with the monarch were unsuccessful as he was said to be taking a long rest.“You can’t talk to Kabiesi until after some days,” said Aliyu, who was staying with the monarch at the hospital in Ilorin.

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