Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Monday killed two Ekiti State monarchs on the Ipao-Oke Ako Road.

The gunmen killed the Onimojo of Imojo in the Oye Local Government Area, Oba Olatunde Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti in the Ikole Local Government Area, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, while the Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba in the Ikole Local Government Area, escaped.

Sources said the traditional rulers were returning from a function in Kogi State when their vehicles ran into the suspected kidnappers, who had laid an ambush on the road.

According to sources, while the bandits chased the Alara in a bid to kidnap him, the two other monarchs also attempted to escape but were shot by the gunmen.

A source explained, “I called my father to inform him that I was coming to the village tomorrow (Tuesday) but he said I should not come because our monarch was killed by some unknown gunmen.

 “He told me the Alara of Ara-Ekiti, the Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti were coming from a function when their vehicle was accosted by the gunmen who shot at them.

“He told me that Elesun and Olumojo were hit by the bullets fired by the gunmen and they died instantly while Alara escaped.”

Chairman of the Ajoni Local Council Development Area, Micheal Ogungbemi, in whose domain the incident took place, said that the dead bodies of the two obas had been recovered from the scene and taken to a mortuary.

The council boss explained that information indicated that the traditional rulers, who were coming from Kogi State, were attacked in the Oke Ako area.

LG chairman speaks

Ogungbemi said, “I have mobilised the Divisional Police Officer, the Rapid Respond Squad, and Amotekun Corps to the place. We have recovered the corpses of the kabiyesis to the hospital. The perpetrators are bandits because Kabiyesi Alara saw them.

“Those killed were Kabiyesi Elesun and Kabiyesi Onimojo. They were shot at and they died instantly. Kabiyesi Alara escaped.

“They were travelling in a car; Kabiyesi Alara drove the car. When they ran into them, they chased Kabiyesi Alara to the forest. Kabiyesi Elesun and Kabiyesi Onimojo were trying to escape from the scene when the bandits coming from behind shot at them.

“The monarchs had driven past the checkpoint of the local security outfit when the incident happened. The Alara, upon escape, informed the local security of the development. The bandits were carrying sophisticated arms.”

The Onikun of Ikun Ekiti and Secretary of Majority Obas of Ekiti Land, Oba Olatunde David Olusola, who described the incident as unfortunate, said the two deceased monarchs were active members of the association.

Olusola said, “There is a need for government to rise, we have been paying lip service to the issue of security. We need to localise the security system and involve traditional rulers. The government must sit down immediately with traditional rulers to fashion out ways to secure our communities. We know what to do.”

When contacted about the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, said it was a case of suspected murder.

“It’s a suspected case of murder but details will be communicated as soon as it’s available. Necessary action is underway as the tactical and intelligence teams have been deployed in that axis,” he stated.

Punch