Gunmen strike Ondo palace, Kill monarch, escape Into bushes

Gunmen have killed a traditional ruler in Ondo State, the police have confirmed.

The victim, Oba Kehinde Falodun, the Alagamọ of Agamọ community in Akure North Local Government Area, was reportedly attacked on Wednesday evening.

The spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed in a statement issued in Akure on Thursday that the incident occurred around 7:10 p.m. According to him, the matter was reported to the police about 40 minutes later by a community leader, High Chief Ajewole Clement of New Town, Itaogbolu.

Preliminary findings indicate that about six armed men invaded the monarch’s residence, forcefully whisked him away from his compound and escaped. His body was later discovered a short distance from the scene with gunshot injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jimoh said the Divisional Police Officer immediately mobilised officers, alongside tactical units of the command, to the area. They worked with local security outfits, including Amotekun operatives, Atuluse Security and local hunters, to comb nearby bushes and surrounding communities in search of the assailants.

He added that surveillance has been heightened across the area to forestall any further security breach, assuring residents that efforts are ongoing to track down and apprehend those responsible.

The police urged members of the public with useful information to come forward and assist ongoing investigations, promising that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.