The abducted Ojibara of Bayagan Ile in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Kamilu Salami, has regained freedom after 25 days in captivity.
The monarch was abducted on his farm by bandits on November 29, 2025.
Oba Salami was released on Tuesday night, December 23.
It was gathered that jubilant residents trooped to the palace to welcome their monarch.
The spokesperson for the community, Ayinla Lawal, who confirmed the development on Wednesday morning to Punch said 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.
“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,” he said.
“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,” he explained.
“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.”
The official social media page of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), 𝕏 to be precise, has been attacked by suspected hackers.
Naija News reports that the DHQ confirmed the development in a statement made public on Saturday, August 15, by the Director of Defence Information, Maj. General Samaila Uba.
He said the body has hence treated the incident as a cybersecurity matter, with technical measures activated to secure the account.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to inform members of the public, the media and all stakeholders that it has detected an attempted unauthorised compromise of its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
“The incident is currently being treated as a cybersecurity matter, and appropriate technical measures have been activated to secure the account and prevent further unauthorised access,” the statement noted.
The DHQ urged members of the public to disregard any publication from the account at the moment while ensuring that efforts were ongoing to fully restore control of the official account.
“The Defence Headquarters assures the public that efforts are ongoing to fully restore control of the official account.
“Consequently, members of the public are advised to disregard any suspicious, unauthorised or misleading content that may be posted from the account during this period,” he said.
Uba stressed the DHQ’s committment to maintaining high standards of information security and ensuring that Nigerians continued to receive accurate, timely and credible information on the activities and operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“We appreciate the understanding and vigilance of the public and will provide further updates as necessary,” he said.
He further urged Nigerians to henceforth check its verified accounts on other platforms, including Facebook under the name “Defence Headquarters Nigeria,” Instagram at @defenceheadquarters and its WhatsApp Channel, Defence Headquarters Nigeria for reliable information.
At least seven workers were killed and 13 injured following a landslide that sent water and debris gushing into a tunnel under construction in north India, officials said Friday.
The incident occurred late Thursday in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, where workers were constructing a tunnel for a state-run hydropower project.
At least three workers are still missing, while 19 were rescued from the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation site, the State Disaster Management Authority said in a statement.
Videos shared by local authorities showed rescue workers equipped with head-mounted torches using makeshift rafts to reach the flooded section of the tunnel.
Uttarakhand has been battered by heavy monsoon rains in recent days.
Accidents on large construction sites are common in India, but ecologists say excessive development projects have led to more disasters in the fragile Himalayan areas.
Last month, 20 people working in a tunnel for another state-run hydroelectric project were killed in the remote northeastern state of Sikkim.
In 2023, 41 workers were rescued after being trapped for 17 days inside a tunnel that collapsed in Uttarakhand.
Hundreds of people have been killed in floods and landslides across the country since the start of the annual monsoon season in June.
Experts say climate change, coupled with poorly planned development, is increasing the frequency, severity, and impact of the disasters.
The Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union has honoured the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, with the ‘Golden Era Pillar of Critical and Strategic Intelligence for National Development Award’, as part of activities marking its 50th anniversary
RATTAWU conferred the award on Ajayi on Thursday at his office, when the National President of the group, Emeka Kalu, led members to a media/security-critical engagement and strategic partnership meeting for national development in Abuja.
Kalu praised the appointment of Ajayi in 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as putting “a round peg in a round hole.”
He added that the award was an initiative of the union designed to recognise individuals and institutions that had made outstanding contributions to national development, security, democracy, culture and the growth of Nigeria.
He said, “Your appointment by Mr President demonstrates the importance of placing capable Nigerians with integrity and professional competence in strategic positions of national responsibility.
“The role of the DSS in protecting Nigeria’s national interests, gathering critical intelligence and supporting national security cannot be overemphasised.
“Particularly now that this country is confronted with complex security and emerging technological challenges, appointments like yours are the best ever done by Mr President.
“That is why this union decided to honour you with the Golden Era Pillar of Critical and Strategic Intelligence for National Development Award.”
Responding, the DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, expressed appreciation to the leadership of RATTAWU for the honour.
Ajayi described the recognition as a significant gesture that would further encourage him and the service to remain committed to their responsibilities to the nation.
