Kwara monarch regains freedom after 25 days in bandit’s den

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The Ojibara of Bayagan Ile in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Kamilu Salami, who was abducted 25 days ago by bandits, has been released.

PUNCH Online exclusively gathered that the monarch, who was abducted on his farm, was released on Tuesday night.

Residents of the community have been thrown into a frenzy of joy and happiness following the arrival 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 on their safe return to the palace.

Spokesperson for the community, Ayinla Lawal, confirmed the development in a message on Wednesday morning.

Ayinla said in an interview that the monarch was released after a huge amount of money, paid in two instalments, was paid to the bandits.

He also told journalists that only the community contributed the amount demanded by the bandits before the release of the monarch.

He stated, “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 disclose 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.”

It would be recalled that Ayinla, in a statement released two weeks ago, said the bandits refused to release the monarch to the community after payment of N10 million earlier demanded by them.

“We took the money to the place where they said we should drop it but they said we should pay them another N15 million which we struggled to raise in the community,” he stated.

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.

He also said that the monarch was taken to Ilorin, the state capital, on 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 newsmen on Wednesday morning during an interview.

Aliyu, who the community sent to pay the ransom on the two installments said he was scared at one 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 a 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 who can 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,” he said.

Efforts 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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