Kwara community alleges police silence after monarch abduction

File Copy: The abducted monarch, Ojibara of Bayagan-Ile, Kamilu Salami

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The Bayagan-Ile community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State has raised the alarm over the abduction of its monarch, Kamilu Salami, the Ojibara of Bayagan-Ile, accusing security agencies of remaining silent since the incident.

The royal father was kidnapped on 29 November 2025 by armed bandits, leaving the agrarian community in fear and uncertainty.

Spokesman of the Bayagan-Ile Royal Family, Rafiu Lawal, told PUNCH Online on Sunday that the community had been left to bear the burden of securing the monarch’s release without official updates from the police.

“Since His Royal Highness was abducted, the entire community has been thrown into fear, tension, and emotional distress. The Nigeria Police Force has not made any official declaration, update, or public statement concerning the incident,” Lawal said.

He added that only the royal family and the community had been “running around and making all possible efforts” to secure Salami’s release.

“The community alone cannot shoulder this burden. We desperately need the intervention, support, and strategic involvement of the Kwara State Government to complement our efforts,” Lawal said, calling on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and federal security agencies to intensify operations and provide timely updates.

When contacted on Sunday, the spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the police were doing everything possible to free the monarch.

“The Kwara State police command is doing everything within its capacity to ensure that all abducted victims are released safely to their loved ones.

“You remember the CP paraded some collaborators on Friday; the police are extracting information from them,” she said.

The kidnapping of the Ojibara highlights growing concerns over banditry and rural insecurity in parts of Kwara, particularly border communities linked to forest routes stretching into Kogi, Niger, and the North-Central corridor.

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