Police arrest 42 over traditional ruler’s abduction

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested 42 suspected illegal miners following the abduction of a traditional ruler, Oba Salman Olátúnjí Aweda, in the Olayinka community of Ifelodun Local Government Area. The Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo disclosed this in an interview on Monday, linking the arrests to the ongoing investigation into the monarch’s abduction. […]

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested 42 suspected illegal miners following the abduction of a traditional ruler, Oba Salman Olátúnjí Aweda, in the Olayinka community of Ifelodun Local Government Area.

The Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo disclosed this in an interview on Monday, linking the arrests to the ongoing investigation into the monarch’s abduction.

Oba Aweda was reportedly kidnapped on Saturday evening by about ten heavily armed men who stormed his palace.

The attack occurred shortly after a group of miners had visited the monarch earlier that day.

While initial reports suggested the monarch’s wife was among those taken, the Commissioner clarified that the attackers focused on the traditional ruler. The gunmen forcefully broke into the palace, dragged the monarch from his room, and demanded the money allegedly given to him by the miners.

“They broke down the door, fetched him from one of the rooms, and demanded the money the miners gave him earlier,” the CP stated.

According to the police, the monarch handed over the money, but the assailants still took him away, along with his brother.

The commissioner stated that security operatives responded swiftly, deploying drones and other operational resources to track the suspects.

“Immediately we got wind of the development, we swung into action using drones and other logistics, and we eventually arrested 42 illegal miners in the community,” he said.

However, the police boss noted that it has not yet been established whether any of the arrested miners were directly involved in the kidnapping. “I cannot confirm whether those who abducted the monarch were among the illegal miners we arrested. Investigations are ongoing,” he added.

All suspects are currently in custody at the state Police Headquarters in Ilorin.

Providing further details, the CP revealed that the monarch’s brother was later abandoned by the kidnappers. The brother, who was barefoot, became exhausted during the forced trek through the bush.

“He told them to kill him if they wished because he was too tired to go on,” the Commissioner said. Instead of killing him, the abductors reportedly tied him to a tree and proceeded further into the forest with the monarch.

Meanwhile, sources within the community reported that the kidnappers have contacted residents, demanding a ransom of N400 million for the monarch’s release.

The Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area, Abdulrasheed Femi Yusuf, described the incident as unfortunate and disturbing.

He confirmed that combined teams of security personnel, forest guards, and local vigilantes have intensified search operations in the surrounding forests.

“We are taking swift and decisive action in collaboration with security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted monarch,” Yusuf said.

Here is the proofread and polished version of your report. I have corrected the spelling of “stampede,” improved the sentence structure, and ensured the details are presented clearly and professionally.