The family of Alhaji Kamilu Salami, the Ojibara of Bayagan-Ile in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, has accused both the state government and the Nigeria Police Force of abandoning them since the monarch was kidnapped on November 29, 2025.
Salami was abducted by armed men near his residence, and the kidnappers have continued to hold him while demanding what the family describes as an “unbearable ransom.”
Speaking with SaharaReporters, a senior family member, Alhaji Rafiu Ayinla Lawal, said the family has received no communication or assistance from any government authority or security agency since the incident. Instead, they have been forced to sell personal belongings and property in a desperate attempt to gather the ransom demanded.
According to Lawal, the abductors sometimes allow the monarch to speak with them every few days, during which he pleads for help. He said the monarch contacted them again on Sunday, begging the family to hasten efforts to secure his release due to the harsh conditions he faces in captivity.
Lawal expressed deep frustration over the silence from state authorities:
“The government has not called us once. No official, no agency, not even the police. We are the only ones doing everything we can. This burden is too heavy for us to bear alone.”
He added that the ransom demanded far exceeds what the family and the small rural community can raise, prompting them to appeal publicly for intervention.
“We call on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Kwara State Government, and federal security agencies. Our monarch has been in captivity since November 29. We need urgent help.”
Earlier reports indicated that residents were thrown into panic after the traditional ruler was taken, with the kidnapping adding to growing concerns about rising insecurity in rural parts of Kwara State.
The state has faced a surge in violent attacks and abductions in recent years, leaving many communities vulnerable and without adequate protection.
