The Dodo of Wawa in Borgu local government area of Niger State, Dr Mahmud Ahmed Aliyu, has been released 46 days after his abduction.
Sources said the family of the monarch paid N10 million ransom to secure his release.
The traditional ruler has returned to the palace on Tuesday.
Bandits numbering about seven, had stormed the palace after the late evening prayers and seized the district head who had just returned from the mosque on September 5.
It would be recall that a week after the incident, the police in Minna claimed that the monarch had been released.
According to the reports, Aliyu was dropped at a village close to Wawa at about 8pm and was told to find his way to his domain.
The reports also said a suspect, believed to be a security guard to the monarch, was arrested in connection with the incident.
However, our correspondent learnt that the reports were based on rumours which emanated within the government circle in Minna.
“We had expected the mornach to return after that information but it turned out to be rumours,” one of Aliyu’s cousins who doesn’t want to be named, told 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE on phone on Tuesday.
He said the monarch just arrived the palace after many weeks in captivity.
He explained that the bandits contacted the family on Friday and that the Talban Wawa, Alhaji Salihu Ahmad discussed with them.
“They promised to call again on Monday but they didn’t.
”When they called today, they said we can pick the Dodo from certain location and we got there, saw him and returned home with him,” he said.
He refused to give details of the discussion the bandits had with the Talban Wawa neither did he say whether money exchange hands before the monarch was released.
However, another source close to the palace told 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE that N10 million was released to the bandits in exchange for the monarch.
“Family members took N10 million today based on an earlier discussion with the bandits before he was let go,” the source said.
Our correspondent learnt that the monarch has emaciated and grown beards while in captivity.
“He looked heavily bearded and quite unkept,” a source said.
