Bandits have reportedly abducted the Ojibara of Bayagan, Alh. Kamilu Salami, in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
It was gathered that the monarch was kidnapped around 9:30 am on Saturday at his farm by a gang of bandits who stormed the location with AK-47 rifles.
Fellow farmers in the region raised the alarm after they were unable to locate Salami but discovered his motorcycle abandoned on the farmland.
This raised concerns and prompted a search among the residents.
Speaking anonymously, a community member revealed that a farmer from a neighboring village observed the kidnapping.
The eyewitness, who claimed to be hiding within a guinea corn farm, said he saw the kidnappers at gunpoint force the traditional monarch onto a motorcycle and race away to an unknown destination.
As of the time of reporting, the kidnappers had not contacted the family or the community.
No ransom demand has been made, raising tensions in the town.
“We are living in fear. Nobody knows what will happen next. The safety of our ruler and even the entire community is at stake,” a family source lamented.
When contacted about the abduction of the monarch, Police Public Relations Officer Ejire Adeyemi said she was unaware of the situation but promised to call the DPO in the region.
“I’m not aware, but I will get in touch with the DPO in that area and give you updates shortly,” she stated.
The event has raised new concerns about the growing insecurity in communities across the state.
Recall that two significant kidnapping cases occurred in the state’s Ekiti Local Government Area in the last two weeks, when bandits abducted 38 members from the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Oke-Isegun in Eruku, killing three.
Only 24 hours after the 38 victims were released, no fewer than 20 people were kidnapped in Isapa, roughly five kilometers from Eruku.
The abductees remain with their captors at the time of filing this report.
