Residents of the Bayagan Ile community in the Ifelodun Local Government area of Kwara State were thrown into a frenzy of joy and happiness on Tuesday night following the release of their traditional ruler, Oba Kamilu Salami, the Ojibara, who was abducted 25 days ago by bandits.
The Guardian recalls that the monarch was abducted on his farm on a fateful Saturday morning.
According to a palace source, Oba Ojibara of Bayagan was released on Tuesday night.
The palace source hinted at a reported bombardment of jubilant residents who crowded to catch a glimpse of their monarch. They waited for hours to touch and congratulate him and his family on his safe return to the palace.
Spokesperson of the community, Ayinla Lawal, confirmed the development in a telephone chat with our reporter on Wednesday morning.
According to Ayinla, the monarch was released after a huge amount of money was paid in two instalments to the bandits. He revealed that only the community raised the amount demanded by the bandits before the release of the monarch.
He said, “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 mention 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.”
Ayinla, who expressed confidence that the bandits won’t strike again in the community, said more vigilantes and hunters have been recruited to keep watch over the community.
He also believed that with the developments, residents who fled the community would start returning.
He added that the monarch was brought to Ilorin 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 the state capital, also confirmed the development in an interview. Aliyu was said to have taken the ransom donated by the entire community.
Aliyu told our reporter that he was scared at one point to visit the bandits because of the fear of being detained alongside his kidnapped brother.
“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 spot. 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 in hiding.
At one 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 that 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 added.
Efforts by our reporter to reach the traditional ruler were abortive, as he was said to be taking a long rest.
“You can’t talk to Kabiesi until after some days,” Aliyu, who was staying with the monarch at the hospital in Ilorin, said.