Nigerian police have arrested 42 suspected illegal miners as part of an investigation into the abduction of a traditional ruler in the country’s west, authorities said.
Oba Salman Olatunji Aweda, the monarch of the Olayinka community in Ifelodun area of Kwara state, was kidnapped on Saturday evening when armed men stormed his palace.
Security officials say search operations are ongoing across nearby forested areas, amid growing concern over a spike in attacks on rural communities in the state.
Residents and local sources say the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of around $300,000 for the monarch’s release, though police have not officially confirmed the figure.
Kwara State Police Commissioner Adekimi Ojo said about 10 heavily armed men forced their way into the palace shortly after miners operating in the area had visited the ruler.
According to Ojo, the attackers demanded money that the miners had earlier handed over to the monarch. Although the king reportedly surrendered the cash, he was still abducted along with his brother.
The brother, who was barefoot, was later abandoned after he became too exhausted to continue. The gunmen then fled into nearby जंगलed areas with the monarch, police said.
Authorities have since launched coordinated operations involving security forces and local vigilante groups to secure his release.
Nigeria has long faced a wave of kidnappings and killings by armed gangs, commonly referred to as bandits, particularly in the north-west. However, security officials warn that such groups have increasingly expanded their operations into central and southern regions.
Kwara state has also seen rising militant activity. In February, the extremist group Mahmuda carried out a deadly attack on a Muslim community, killing dozens after a dispute with a local traditional leader.
Analysts say the spread of kidnapping networks, jihadist groups and local armed gangs is placing increasing strain on Nigeria’s already stretched security apparatus, particularly in remote areas where dense forests offer cover for attackers.