Two traditional rulers in Ekiti State were reportedly ambushed and shot dead by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers along Oke Ako Road in the Ikole Local Government Area of the state on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Alara of Ara Ikole, Oba Fatoba, travelling alongside them, escaped from the scene by whiskers. He was the one driving when the incident happened.
“We have evacuated the remains of the monarchs and deposited them in the mortuary at the Ikole General Hospital.
“Our local security outfit and Amotekun have been drafted to the scene and the bush to arrest the bandits who committed this dastardly act.”
The Chairman of Ajoni LCDA, Hon. Michael Ogungbemi, confirmed the attack and the killing of the two traditional rulers, the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin, and the Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olushola.
“I want to call on the government to allow our local security network to carry arms because the traditional ruler who escaped told us the gunmen were carrying AK-47s and other dangerous weapons. These people are killing us, and it is becoming unbearable.
“The secretary of Majority Obas of Ekiti Land (MOBEL) and Onikun of Ikun-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde David Olushola, who condemned the killing of the traditional rulers, said the time has come for the government to localise the security system to address the growing insecurity in the land.”
It was reliably gathered that the vehicle conveying three monarchs was accosted, and Oba Ogunsakin and Oba Olatunji were killed. At the same time, the Alara of Ara-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba escaped from the scene.
Sources said the monarchs were returning from Ogbe in Kogi State in a vehicle driven by the Alara when the armed men struck.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Sunday Abutu promised to get back to our correspondent for details.
The chairman of the Ajoni Local Council Development Area, Michael Ogungbemi, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.
Ogungbemi, who said the gunmen attempted to kidnap the three traditional rulers who lamented the killing of the revered traditional rulers, said he had mobilised local security outfits, including the Amotekun corps, to comb the forest in a bid to arrest the perpetrators.
According to him, “I just returned from the scene of the unfortunate incident along Oke-Ako Road, and I can confirm that two traditional rulers, the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti and Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, were killed by the gunmen who ambushed them.”
Ogungbemi, who appealed to the Federal Government to approve the usage of arms by the local security outfits in the state, said the attacks have been recurring in the area in the last few years.
“I am extremely sad with the situation, and I want to call on the government to allow our local security network to carry arms because the traditional ruler who escaped told us the gunmen were carrying AK-47s and other dangerous weapons. These people are killing us, and it is becoming unbearable.”
The secretary of Majority Obas of Ekiti Land (MOBEL) and Onikun of Ikun-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde David Olushola, who condemned the killing of the traditional rulers, said the time has come for the government to localise the security system to address the growing insecurity in the land.
Details later…
