29th January, 2024
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly shot two traditional rulers in Ekiti State communities dead, with one other traditional ruler escaping death.
The Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olusola were shot dead.
The Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba was said to have escaped death by the whiskers.
The three traditional rulers were travelling along the Oke-Ako road, in Ikole Local Government Area of the state when they were killed.
They were returning from a security meeting in Irele Ekiti when the gunmen struck.
The driver of the car, who is the Alara, was lucky to have escaped unhurt from the scene as he ran into the bush and later went back to the town to report the incident.
Chairman of Ajoni Local Council Development Area, Prince Micheal Ogungbemi confirmed the incident.
He said the traditional leaders were killed as the gunmen made attempt to kidnap them.
Ogungbemi said the killing was sad. He said local security operatives and the Amotekun corps had been mobilised to go after the perpetrators and arrest them.
In his words: “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.
“The Alara of Ara-Ekiti managed to escape from the incident, he was the one driving when the incident happened. We have evacuated the remains of the monarchs and deposited them at the morgue at the Ikole General Hospital.
Secretary of Majority Obas of Ekiti Land (MOBEL) and Onikun of Ikun-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde David Olushola condemned the killing of the traditional rulers.
He said the time had come for the government to localise security system in order to address the growing insecurity in the land.
According to him, the two traditional rulers were active members of our association, saying it was very sad.