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Police detain 42 suspected illegal miners after monarch abducted
Nigerian authorities have arrested 42 individuals linked to illegal mining operations as part of an investigation into the kidnapping of a traditional ruler in Kwara state. Oba Salman Olatunji Aweda, leader of the Olayinka community in Ifelodun, was taken by armed men who stormed his palace on Saturday evening.
Ransom demand and security fears
The kidnappers reportedly demanded $300,000 (£221,000) for the monarch's release, though police have not confirmed the claim. Security concerns are escalating in Kwara, where attacks on rural communities have surged in recent months.
Kwara State Commissioner of Police Adekimi Ojo stated that around 10 heavily armed assailants forced their way into the palace shortly after miners visited the ruler. The miners had allegedly given the monarch money earlier in the day, though the nature of their transaction remains unclear.
"The terrorists broke down the door, seized the monarch from his room, and demanded the money the miners had given him earlier," Ojo said.
Kwara State Police Commissioner
Abduction details and ongoing search
The monarch reportedly surrendered the cash but was still abducted along with his brother. The brother, who was barefoot, later collapsed from exhaustion, prompting the kidnappers to tie him to a tree and abandon him. The gunmen then fled into the forest with the ruler.
Residents say the abductors later contacted the community to demand ransom. Police and local vigilante groups are conducting search operations in the area, which has seen a rise in attacks on highways, farms, and traditional leaders.
Broader security crisis in Kwara
Kwara has become a hotspot for criminal gangs, locally known as "bandits," who have expanded their operations beyond the northwest. These groups frequently exploit forested border areas to evade security forces.
In February, the jihadist group Mahmuda launched a deadly attack on a Muslim community in Kwara, killing at least 75 people after a traditional ruler refused to allow them to preach in the area.
Local response and next steps
Officials are collaborating with security agencies and vigilante groups to secure the monarch's safe return. The arrests of the 42 suspected miners mark a step in the investigation, though the ruler's whereabouts remain unknown.
