Kwara State has been thrown into celebration after the Ojibara of Bayagan, Alhaji Kamilu Salami, and six other captives broke free from a bandits’ hideout following a daring forest assault by local vigilantes.
Community sources confirmed that the dramatic escape unfolded on Sunday evening when vigilante operatives launched a coordinated strike deep inside the forest, disrupting the camp where the victims were being held.
The sudden gunfire reportedly created enough confusion for the captives to flee.
One resident familiar with the operation described the rescue push as “a decisive move that caught the criminals unprepared,” adding that the monarch contacted the community shortly after escaping to confirm that he and the other victims were safe but still navigating their way out of the forest.
The kidnappers had earlier demanded a ransom of N150 million, placing the community under significant pressure.
They phoned Bayagan leaders early Sunday, allowing the monarch to speak briefly as proof that he remained in their custody.
During that emotional call, the monarch appealed for calm and urged his people to negotiate cautiously.
He recounted being transported for more than five hours on a motorcycle through thick forest before arriving at the bandits’ camp. An ordeal he described as “a journey I pray no one ever experiences.”
He also revealed that several residents of neighbouring villages had been abducted around the same time, heightening concerns about rising insecurity in the axis.
Alhaji Salami was kidnapped on Saturday morning around 9:30 a.m. when armed men stormed his farm, firing shots before whisking him away.
The attack sparked tension across Bayagan, a large community in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
Although news of the escape brought relief, residents remain anxious until the monarch and the six others make a full return home.
A community elder expressed the prevailing mood, stating, “We are grateful for this breakthrough, but our hearts won’t rest until the Baale is back among his people.”
Bayagan now waits for the final confirmation of his safe arrival, holding onto renewed hope as vigilante groups intensify patrols to prevent further attacks.