The royal family of Bayagan-Ile community in Ifelodun Local Council of Kwara State has dismissed reports that their monarch, Oba Kamilu Salami, has been freed from captivity, insisting he remains in the custody of his abductors.
Spokesperson for the family, Rafiu Lawal, said late Tuesday that contrary to widespread rumours, the traditional ruler has not been rescued by local hunters.
“I wish to formally address and debunk the false information circulating across various media houses and social media platforms, claiming that our monarch, Kamilu Salami, has been rescued,” Lawal said.
“I spoke with Kabiyesi on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, and he confirmed that he is still in the custody of his abductors. The narrative suggesting that he has regained his freedom is fake and should be disregarded in its entirety.”
The family urged the public, bloggers, and media organisations to desist from sharing unverified claims, stressing that only updates from the royal household should be considered accurate to avoid misinformation and undue tension.
Oba Salami, the Ojibara of Bayagan, was abducted from his farm in Ifelodun on Saturday morning. His kidnappers have since contacted the community and demanded a ransom of N150 million for his release.
