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Abducted Kwara monarch regains freedom after 25 days in captivity
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.”
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A fire outbreak has occurred at the mattress section of the Ogun–Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ), Igbesa, on Sunday.
It was gathered that the fire was triggered by a gas explosion from a foam-producing company in the industrial park.
The incident has reportedly caused chaos and fear among students living around the Obanla axis of the area.
In a video obtained by our correspondent, students were seen running out of their hostels as the thick smoke covered the sky.
An eyewitness, Kuwhede Vincent, a student of the Ogun State Institute of Technology, OGITECH, Igbesa, disclosed that there was a loud noise followed by smoke and fire.
Vincent said, “ It started around 8 am in the morning, we first saw smoke then fire coming from the company.
“The company is very close to my hostel but I don’t think any hostel was affected. We just carried our bag because we don’t know what can happen next”.
He noted that the fire service were on ground to curtail the fire.
Reacting to the incident, President of the Student Union Government in OGITECH, Ilo Fadilu Temitope, in a statement signed by its secretary, Moses Josephine and PRO Segbetin Sunday, and made available to called for calm among students, urging them to be vigilant, and adhere strictly to safety measures.
Part of the statement reads, “The attention of the Students’ Union Government has been drawn to information reaching us regarding a fire outbreak at the Ogun–Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ), Igbesa, which is in close proximity to some student hostels around the Obanla axis.
“While relevant authorities are reportedly responding to the situation, the Students’ Union deems it necessary to prioritize the safety and well-being of all students.
“In view of this, students especially those residing around Obanla axis and its environs are hereby advised to remain calm but vigilant, and to strictly observe the following safety measures: Avoid unnecessary movement towards the affected area or fire scene, stay indoors where it is safe to do so and keep doors and windows closed if there is smoke in the environment, switch off electrical appliances and gas sources as a precaution.”
As of the time of filing this report, there has not been any official statement on the cause of the incident.
When contacted by our correspondent, the Commissioner of the State’s Ministry of Environment, Ola Oresanya said, “Thanks for the information, I will work on it immediately.”
Many houses affected as fire guts Ogun Free Trade Zone pic.twitter.com/pYIjbLwGhJ
— Temitope Hassan (@temihat) January 11, 2026
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