The Ojibara of Bayagan Ile, Alhaji Kamilu Salami, has regained his freedom after spending 25 days in the hands of suspected bandits, local sources confirmed on Wednesday. The traditional ruler was abducted from his farm on November 29, 2025, in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State and was only released late Tuesday night following the payment of a substantial ransom by members of his community.
The monarch’s return was met with jubilation and relief as residents poured into the palace premises to catch a glimpse of their king and to congratulate his family and community on his safe return.
According to Ayinla Lawal, a spokesperson for the community, the release was secured only after the bandits’ financial demands were met, a burden borne entirely by residents through collective contributions. While neither he nor other community representatives disclosed the exact amount paid, Lawal described it as “a huge amount” that required significant sacrifice.
“We have pleaded that we should not mention the amount, so I won’t be able to tell you the amount,” Lawal told reporters Wednesday. “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.”
The monarch, who was seized while working on his farmland in a forested area, was held deep in bandit territory during his captivity. His younger brother, Aliyu Salami, was entrusted with delivering the ransom on behalf of the community—a task he described as terrifying given the unpredictable movements of the kidnappers.
“At one point, I was seriously afraid and I told the community that I couldn’t go again,” Aliyu said. “But they told me that I’m the only person that could go, being the monarch’s immediate younger brother.”
The bandits, who are reported to operate across remote terrains within Kwara and neighboring states, often switch locations, making negotiation and delivery of ransom payments a perilous endeavour. Captives, Lawal explained, are rarely kept in fixed locations, further complicating rescue efforts.
Following his release, the monarch was immediately conveyed to a private hospital in Ilorin for urgent medical attention. Attempts to speak with him directly were unsuccessful as he was reportedly resting upon arrival.
Residents expressed a mixture of joy and exhaustion at the ordeal’s end, with many acknowledging the strain of raising the funds demanded by the kidnappers. Several families who had fled Bayagan Ile in the wake of the ruler’s abduction are expected to return home as security conditions appear to improve.
The monarch’s abduction is part of a broader pattern of insecurity in parts of Kwara State, where banditry and kidnappings have triggered mass displacements and community fears in recent months. Armed groups have been blamed for attacks on civilians, religious gatherings and remote rural settlements, often demanding steep ransoms for the release of captives.
While the immediate relief at the monarch’s release is palpable, security experts argue that sustained government and security agency interventions will be necessary to prevent similar incidents and reassure communities across affected areas.
