Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
IFELODUN, Nigeria – A cloud of grief has settled over the Olayinka community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State after news broke that its traditional ruler, Oba Salman Olatunji Aweda, died in bandits’ captivity — even after his community paid a staggering ₦21 million ransom, two brand‑new motorcycles, and a jerrycan of petrol to secure his release. The monarch’s death was confirmed in an emotional voice message obtained by SaharaReporters from a member of a committee involved in efforts to secure his freedom. The committee member announced the tragic development to members of the Olayinka community, describing the monarch's death as an act of God's will despite extensive efforts by residents, family members, community leaders, and religious figures to secure his safe return.
The abduction occurred in the early hours of Saturday, April 18, 2026, when about ten heavily armed men stormed the palace of Oba Salman Aweda at approximately 1:40 a.m. The assailants, firing sporadically to scare residents, broke down the door, demanded money that miners had given the monarch earlier that day, and took him away. The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed that the monarch was abducted by ten fully armed terrorists after miners had paid him a visit earlier in the day. The police later arrested 42 suspected illegal miners in connection with the abduction, though the commissioner could not confirm whether those who abducted the monarch were among the miners arrested.
The kidnappers initially demanded an astronomical ransom of ₦400 million from the community, a demand that was later negotiated down. After approximately one month in captivity, the abductors opened negotiations and demanded ₦21 million in cash, two new motorcycles, and a jerrycan of petrol as conditions for the ruler's release. The community mobilised and delivered the full ransom package, hoping desperately that the monarch would be freed alive. However, their hopes were shattered when a victim who was recently freed by the abductors in Sagbe, Kwara State, reported that the monarch had already died while in captivity.
In an emotional voice message obtained by SaharaReporters, a member of the committee involved in the rescue efforts announced the monarch’s death, saying: “Allah in His mercy said in the Holy Qur'an that we all human beings on earth belong to Him, and to Him we shall return, whether when we expect it or when we do not expect it. This is to inform the Olayinka community, both male and female, young and old, that our beloved father, His Royal Highness Alhaji Salman Olatunji, the monarch of Olayinka, has answered the call of his Creator. The will of God has come to pass on him.”
The committee member disclosed that all the reports and rumours circulating about the monarch's fate had now been confirmed, noting that every effort made to rescue him ultimately failed. He urged residents to accept the development as God’s decree, saying: “All the rumours everyone has been hearing from different angles, and all the efforts that have been made by family members, residents, committees and Islamic clerics, have now led to this moment. The will of God has happened. Whether one likes it or not, every soul will return to its Creator, and nobody knows the means through which that return will come.”
The committee member further disclosed that members of the Muslim community had concluded plans to hold Islamic funeral prayers for the late monarch even though his body had not been recovered. “As required by Islamic rites, all members of the Olayinka Muslim community in Lagos are requested to gather by 8 a.m. to perform prayers and Janazah for him. Although we have not been able to locate his body, Islam teaches that funeral rites can still be performed even when the deceased is not physically present,” he said.
The police commissioner had earlier disclosed that the monarch’s brother, who was also abducted alongside him, was tied to a tree and left behind by the kidnappers when he refused to continue the journey. According to the police, the brother reportedly told the terrorists to kill him if they wished, complaining that he was tired of going ahead with the journey without wearing any slippers. Instead of killing him, the kidnappers tied him to a tree and fled with the monarch alone.
Oba Aweda, who was reportedly one of the traditional rulers recently graded and officially installed by the Kwara State Government earlier this year, was described by locals as widely respected for his leadership and commitment to local development. His death is not an isolated case; it is the third abduction of a traditional ruler in Kwara South within a year. Across the region, at least 30 kings have fled their palaces amid attacks. In September 2025, the Baale of Ogbayo was killed in his palace; in February 2024, the Olukoro of Koro-Ekiti was killed, and his wife was abducted.
The Olayinka incident sits inside a larger nightmare of escalating insecurity in Kwara State. Reports indicate that between 174 and 176 children, women, and residents from Kwara are still held captive after being abducted since February 2026. Victims released videos pleading with Kwara and Oyo State Governments, saying: “We have small children with us, and some women are pregnant. Please… this is the last chance they gave us.” Terrorists reportedly threatened mass execution if demands weren’t met. On Democracy Day, June 12, while the nation celebrated, communities in Woro, Edu, Patigi, and Kaiama mourned. In Ilorin, Take-It-Back Movement protesters gave the government a 72‑hour ultimatum to rescue abductees.
The police linked the Olayinka abduction to tensions around illegal mining. The attackers reportedly struck shortly after miners visited the palace and handed cash to the monarch. Forty-two suspected illegal miners were arrested in connection with the case. The incident has heightened fears among residents, with many worried that it signals a resurgence of insecurity in Kwara South, which has seen rising attacks from criminal bandits moving south from the northwest. The jihadist group Mahmuda has also been active, killing at least 75 people in February after a traditional ruler refused to let them preach nearby.
As of the time of filing this report, Kwara security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the reported death of the traditional ruler. However, residents have continued to call on authorities to intensify security operations across the area amid growing concerns over the worsening insecurity in parts of the state. The tragic killing of Oba Salman Olatunji Aweda, despite the payment of a substantial ransom, has renewed urgent questions about the effectiveness of the government’s approach to insecurity and the safety of traditional institutions in Nigeria’s rural communities.
Below are the photographs of the late Oba Salman Olatunji Aweda and the Olayinka community.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com ✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments