Armed assailants have killed two traditional rulers after their abduction at the Oke-ako road in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
The Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olushola and Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin were waylaid and killed by the gunmen on Monday, the Alara of Ara-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, escaped from the scene.
Sources said the traditional leaders were returning from a security meeting at Irele-Ekiti when they were attacked by the kidnappers.
Spokesman of the Ekiti State Police Command, DSP Sunday Abutu, said, “I will get the details and get back please.”
Speaking on the killing, chairman of the Ajoni Local Council Development Area, Micheal Ogungbemi, said the armed men attempted to kidnap the three traditional rulers.
Ogungbemi said he had mobilised local security outfits, including the Amotekun corps, to comb the forest in a bid to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
“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 when the incident happened. We have evacuated the remains of the monarchs and deposited them in the morgue 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.”
Ogungbemi, who appealed to the federal government to approve the usage of arms by the local vigilante groups in the state, said the attacks have been on 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-47 and other dangerous weapons. These people are killing us and it is becoming unbearable.”
