Ekiti Monarchs Shot Dead During Kidnap Attempt

Tragedy struck in Ekiti State on Monday as gunmen killed two monarchs who were returning from a meeting in Ikole Local Government Area of the State.

The Elesun of Esun, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Olumojo of Imojo, Oba Samuel Olatunji, were reportedly ambushed by their assailant while returning from Kogi State.

A security source disclosed that another monarch, the Alara of Ara-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, escaped during the attack that took place along Ipao-Irele-Oke Ako Road.

The source said, “The kings were inside the vehicle of Alara when they were ambushed. We have evacuated the corpses of kings and deposited them in the morgue.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, promised to revert.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ajoni Local Council Development Area, Micheal Ogungbemi explained that “the gunmen attempted to kidnap the three monarchs but failed, then they resorted to the dastard killing.”

He added, “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. Our local security outfit and Amotekun have been drafted to the scene and the bush to arrest the bandits who committed this dastardly act.”

“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.”