By Rasheeda Balogun ILORIN —
The Olayinka community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State has absolved its abducted traditional ruler, Oba Salman Olatunji Aweda, of allegations linking him to the collection of mining royalties prior to his abduction.
The clarification follows claims by the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, who had stated in an earlier interview that the abductors demanded royalties reportedly collected by the monarch earlier in the day.
However, the community, through its spokesperson, Kamarrdeen Olowo, dismissed the claim, describing it as a mix-up in the police account.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, Olowo explained that security operatives had been carrying out operations against illegal miners in neighbouring communities such as Okeode and Agunjin before the monarch’s abduction.
According to him, dozens of suspected illegal miners were arrested in those areas, with five apprehended in Olayinka community after the monarch had already been kidnapped.
“The police had earlier arrested about 50 illegal miners in nearby communities before moving to Olayinka, where five more were picked up. These arrests occurred after the monarch was abducted,” he said.
He stressed that it was incorrect to suggest that the monarch received royalties from illegal miners or that such an incident led to his abduction.
Olowo appealed to the state government to intensify efforts to secure the monarch’s release and to take proactive measures to prevent further attacks on the community.
“We urge the government to do everything possible to rescue our monarch promptly and ensure that such security breaches do not happen again,” he added.
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