{"id":11634,"date":"2026-06-14T16:38:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-14T16:38:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/?p=11634"},"modified":"2026-06-14T16:39:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T16:39:10","slug":"tragedy-in-kwara-traditional-ruler-of-olayinka-dies-in-captivity-despite-%e2%82%a621-million-ransom-bikes-and-fuel-payment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/2026\/06\/14\/tragedy-in-kwara-traditional-ruler-of-olayinka-dies-in-captivity-despite-%e2%82%a621-million-ransom-bikes-and-fuel-payment\/","title":{"rendered":"Tragedy in Kwara: Traditional Ruler of Olayinka Dies in Captivity Despite \u20a621 Million Ransom, Bikes, and Fuel Payment"},"content":{"rendered":"

” \u20a621 Million Ransom YET <\/span>“Yoruba Monarch <\/span>Dies in Captivity\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n
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A cloud of grief has settled over Olayinka community in Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State, after news broke that its traditional ruler,\u00a0Oba Salman Olatunji Aweda<\/span>, died in bandits\u2019 captivity \u2014 even after his community paid a \u20a621 million ransom, two brand-new motorcycles, and a jerrycan of petrol to secure his release.<\/p>\n

A resident freed from the kidnappers\u2019 den revealed on\u00a0June 12, 2026,<\/span>\u00a0that\u00a0the traditional ruler who was kidnapped in may 2026 had already died in captivity<\/span>\u00a0before his release could be secured.<\/p>\n

What happened<\/span><\/h4>\n
    \n
  1. The abduction<\/span>: Around 1:00\u20131:40 a.m. on a Saturday, about 10 heavily armed men stormed the palace in Olayinka. They broke down the door, demanded money that miners had given the monarch earlier that day, and took him away. Initial reports said his wife and one other person were also abducted, though police later stated only the monarch was taken.<\/li>\n
  2. The ransom<\/span>: After roughly one month in captivity, kidnappers opened negotiations. The community mobilised and delivered \u20a621 million cash, two new motorcycles, and a jerrycan of petrol.<\/li>\n
  3. The outcome<\/span>: A resident recently freed by the same gang disclosed that the monarch had already died in captivity. The revelation shattered hopes that the ransom would bring him home alive.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    As of filing, Kwara security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the reported death.<\/p>\n

    Why this hit differently<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Oba Aweda was reportedly one of the traditional rulers \u201crecently graded\u201d and officially installed by the Kwara State Government earlier this year. He was described by locals as widely respected for his leadership and commitment to local development.<\/p>\n

    This is not an isolated case. It\u2019s the\u00a0third abduction of a traditional ruler in Kwara South within a year<\/span>. 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.<\/p>\n

    The wider crisis: 176+ still held<\/span><\/h4>\n

    The Olayinka incident sits inside a larger nightmare. Reports say\u00a0174\u2013176 children, women, and residents<\/span> from Kwara are still held captive after being abducted since February 3 2926. Victims released videos pleading with Kwara and Oyo State Governments: \u201cWe have small children with us, and some women are pregnant. Please\u2026 this is the last chance they gave us\u201d. Terrorists reportedly threatened mass execution if demands weren\u2019t met.<\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    Security context: Bandits, miners, and Mahmuda<\/span><\/h4>\n

    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. 42 suspected illegal miners were arrested in connection with the case.<\/p>\n

    Kwara has seen rising attacks from criminal \u201cbandits\u201d moving south from the northwest. The jihadist group\u00a0Mahmuda<\/span>\u00a0has also been active, killing at least 75 people in February after a traditional ruler refused to let them preach nearby.<\/p>\n

    The political fallout<\/span><\/h4>\n

    The death has reignited national debate on ransom payments and state failure. Former Vice President\u00a0Atiku Abubakar<\/span>, ADC\u2019s 2027 presidential candidate, issued a blistering statement after the death of Retired Major-General Abubakar Rabe in bandit custody. He said:<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt is with profound sadness and deep anger that we mourn\u2026 That such a man could end up dying in the hands of criminals is both heartbreaking and unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cHis death marks yet another painful blow to our nation’s Security Architecture, and a chilling reminder of the vulnerability of even our most experienced Military Leaders\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of making soldiers\u2019 sacrifices appear futile and warned that \u201cunder the current administration, no Nigerian is safe\u201d.<\/p>\n

    The\u00a0Yoruba Union<\/span>\u00a0also condemned President Tinubu\u2019s Democracy Day speech as a \u201cmockery\u201d while schoolchildren, teachers, and traditional rulers remain in captivity. They noted over 40 schoolchildren\/teachers abducted in Oyo and 174 children\/women in Kwara remain unrescued for over two months.<\/p>\n

    What locals are saying<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Residents describe the attack as \u201clike a war scene\u201d. \u201cThey came with guns and started shooting. People were running\u2026 Before we knew what was happening, Kabiyesi had been taken\u201d. Many now question how kidnappers could kill a victim after collecting \u20a621M+ in ransom. For Olayinka, hope turned to heartbreak. \u201cThe efforts and sacrifices made to secure his release ultimately failed,\u201d a source said.<\/p>\n

    Chairman of Ifelodun LGA, Hadji Abdulrasheed Yusuf, said joint search operations with security operatives, forest guards, and vigilantes were launched. The Olora of Ora, Oba Rilwan Yekini, warned: \u201cEven Ora is no longer safe\u201d and called for federal intervention.<\/p>\n

    The big picture<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Ransom economy<\/span>: Families are paying \u20a620M\u2013\u20a632M per victim, yet killings continue. Police routinely deny knowledge of payments and advise against them.<\/p>\n

    Targeting traditional institutions<\/span>: Monarchs are now prime targets \u2014 for cash, influence, and to destabilise communities.<\/p>\n

    Humanitarian crisis<\/span>: Pregnant women, children, and elderly victims are held for months. Captives report being forced to learn Arabic\/Islamic knowledge.<\/p>\n

    For Olayinka, what began as a desperate fight to save their king ended in sorrow and unanswered questions. As one resident put it: the community is \u201cstruggling to come to terms with the tragedy\u201d \u2014 a painful reminder of rural Nigeria\u2019s security collapse.<\/p>\n

    What do you think needs to change?<\/span>\u00a0Drop your thoughts below. And if you\u2019re in Kwara South, stay vigilant and share credible info with security agencies.<\/p>\n

    :<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    ” \u20a621 Million Ransom YET “Yoruba Monarch Dies in Captivity\u201d A cloud of grief has settled over Olayinka community in Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State, after news broke that its traditional ruler,\u00a0Oba Salman Olatunji Aweda,...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11635,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t