The Bayagan-Ile community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State has issued an official call for urgent intervention by the police, the state government, and security agencies to secure the release of their kidnapped monarch, Alhaji Kamilu Salami, the Ojibara of Bayagan-Ile.
The monarch was abducted ten days ago by armed bandits while on his farm and is believed to still be held in a forest.
In a statement released to journalists, the community spokesperson, Alhaji Rafiu Ayinla Lawal, expressed deep concern over the situation. He noted that the monarch’s abduction on 29 November 2025 had plunged the entire community into fear, tension, and emotional distress.
Lawal also condemned what he described as the persistent silence of the police, saying officers had neither visited the community nor made any official pronouncement on the incident.
“Despite numerous efforts by the Royal Family and the community to support investigations, the Nigeria Police Force has not issued any declaration, update, or public statement. This silence has heightened the anxiety of our people, who are deeply worried about the safety and wellbeing of our monarch,” he stated.
He further stressed that the community and the Royal Family had been solely responsible for efforts to ensure the monarch’s safe release.
The statement appealed to the Kwara State Government to step in, saying the community could no longer shoulder the burden alone.
“The Royal Family and the entire Bayagan-Ile community are pleading with the relevant security agencies and the Kwara State Government to intensify efforts, provide timely updates, and take decisive action toward securing the release of our monarch. We remain hopeful that with swift and coordinated intervention, this distressing situation will be resolved urgently,” it added.
