Kwara Community Accuses Police of Silence After Abduction of Traditional Ruler
Residents of Bayagan-Ile in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have accused Security Agencies of maintaining what they describe as a “worrying silence” following the abduction of their monarch, Kamilu Salami, the Ojibara of Bayagan-Ile.
The traditional ruler was seized by armed bandits on 29 November 2025, an attack that has left the agrarian community deeply unsettled. Locals say that nearly two weeks after the incident, Security Agencies have not issued any official statement or provided meaningful updates on the ongoing rescue efforts.
Speaking to Global Mirror News on Sunday, the spokesperson for the Bayagan-Ile Royal Family, Rafiu Lawal, said the community had been left to coordinate rescue efforts on its own.
“Since His Royal Highness was abducted, the entire community has been thrown into fear, tension, and emotional distress. The Police have not made any official declaration or public update concerning the incident,” he said.
Lawal explained that both the royal family and community members had been “running around and making all possible efforts” to secure the monarch’s release, stressing that the situation had become overwhelming without structured support from the authorities.
He appealed to Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Nigeria Police Force, and Federal Security Agencies to intensify rescue operations and provide clear communication to residents.
Police Insist Rescue Efforts Are Ongoing
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, dismissed claims of inaction, insisting that officers were working 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,” she said.
Ejire-Adeyemi referenced the recent parade of suspected collaborators by the Commissioner of Police, noting that investigators were currently extracting intelligence from those in custody to aid rescue operations.
Rising Concerns Over Rural Insecurity
The kidnapping of the Ojibara has renewed concerns about rising insecurity across rural parts of Kwara, particularly border communities linked to forest routes stretching through Kogi, Niger, and other parts of the North-Central region. The area has experienced increasing bandit activity in recent months, leaving residents fearful and demanding urgent Government intervention.
