The Onigbesi of Igbesi Land in Kwara State, Oba Moses Oyinloye Iwedunmoye I, has died days after he was rescued from kidnappers.

The monarch passed away in the early hours of Saturday at a hospital, according to his son, Prince Olasunkanmi, who said his father had been receiving treatment following a brief illness.

“Yes, the news is true. He died after a brief illness following his release. We took him to the hospital, hoping he would survive, but he died there very early this morning,” Olasunkanmi said.

Oba Iwedunmoye was abducted on August 22 when armed men invaded Igbesi community in Isin Local Government Area.

He regained his freedom five days later after security forces launched an operation around the Elerin/Ijomu-Oro area, where three kidnapped victims were found.

The rescue followed a report received at the Oro Police Station from a vigilante member, who alerted authorities after one of his colleagues was shot while operating in the bush.

A combined team of police officers, soldiers and vigilantes was subsequently deployed to the area.

Police said the suspected kidnappers engaged the team in a gun battle after spotting the advancing operatives. One alleged kidnapper was killed during the exchange, while others escaped into the surrounding area.

The security team continued the search and eventually located the three victims, who were evacuated for medical treatment.

News of the monarch’s death was announced by Bisi Fakayode, National President of Omo Ibile Igbomina, who mourned the traditional ruler and prayed for the repose of his soul.

The circumstances surrounding the monarch’s illness and death have not been publicly disclosed beyond his family’s account that he fell ill after his release.

Ahead of Dry Season Surge, NCDC Urges Proactive Measures Against Lassa Fever

As the dry season approaches, Nigeria’s public health authorities are sounding an urgent alarm over Lassa fever, calling on the nation to preempt a seasonal wave that historically claims dozens of lives between November and April.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris stressed that the country cannot afford to wait until hospitals are inundated. While the acute viral illness remains an ongoing threat, Idris pointed out that the current pre-peak window offers an invaluable opportunity to fix recurring weak links in containment and clinical management.

The impetus for the proactive campaign stems from clear post-outbreak data pointing to preventable bottlenecks. Many patients succumb to the virus because early symptoms mirror common tropical ailments, leading to days of unguided home remedies or repeated visits to local chemist shops before presenting at designated treatment centers.

The review also pointed to gaps in infection control that left medical personnel vulnerable to nosocomial exposure during peak admission cycles, compounded by domestic environments that invite multimammate rodents into direct contact with uncovered food.

READ ALSO:

• One Killed, Two Rescued as Two-Storey Building Collapses During Demolition in Lagos
• Warri Lawyer, Wife Arrested Over Sale of Baby Declared Dead at Birth
• FG Releases Eight-Month CATA Allowance to Lecturers Across Federal Tertiary Institutions

Under the newly deployed Accelerated Readiness Plan, the NCDC is mobilizing an inter-agency response that crosses traditional departmental lines. By coupling epidemiological tracking with agricultural and environmental interventions, authorities aim to concentrate resources where transmission risks run highest.

The plan places heavy emphasis on tightening laboratory networks to eliminate diagnostic delays, while training healthcare staff to isolate and report suspected infections before viral loads peak.

Health officials underscored that containment begins in individual households and neighborhoods. Families were cautioned against leaving staples like beans, garri, and grains accessible to rodents, with directives to avoid direct contact with rat fluids and maintain rigorous waste management around dwellings.

With late presentation remaining the single largest driver of Lassa fever fatalities, the agency urged individuals with unyielding fever to abandon self-medication and seek professional diagnostics immediately, reminding health workers on the frontlines that early clinical suspicion is the ultimate barrier against hospital outbreaks.

Ahead of Dry Season Surge, NCDC Urges Proactive Measures Against Lassa Fever

Nigeria’s top food and drug regulator has linked the widespread availability of pocket-sized alcohol directly to violent crime and a mounting public health crisis.

(more…)