Traditional Ruler, Ojibara of Bayagan, Six Others Escape From Bandits In Kwara State
The Ojibara of Bayagan in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Kamilu Salami, and six other abductees have escaped from their captors, Vanguard reports. Sources from the community said the escape followed a daring attack by vigilantes who stormed the forest where the bandits were holding the victims. “The vigilante team confronted the bandits in a fierce battle around the Eku Idaji area, near Igbaja. While the monarch and the six others have not yet returned to Bayagan, they have contacted members of the community to confirm their escape,” a source said. The bandits had earlier demanded a ransom of N150 million for the monarch’s release. Vanguard had learned on Sunday morning that they contacted the community in the early hours to insist on the payment, requiring Oba Ojibara to prove he was in their custody. The monarch reportedly urged his community to negotiate for his release, explaining that he was transported on a motorcycle through dense forests for more than five hours before arriving at the bandits’ hideout. He also revealed that other people had been abducted from a nearby community during the attack. Bayagan is one of the largest communities in Ifelodun LGA. Oba Ojibara was kidnapped around 9:30 am on Saturday when armed bandits, reportedly carrying AK-47 rifles, stormed his farm.
