GUNMEN suspected to be kidnappers have killed two traditional rulers travelling through a community in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the two traditional rulers, the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olushola, were ambushed and killed by the gunmen on Monday, while the Alara of AraIkole-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, escaped from the scene.
Sources said the monarchs were returning from a security meeting in Irele-Ekiti in a vehicle being driven by the Alara when they were attacked.
When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Sunday Abutu, said: “I will get the details and get back, please.”
Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, chairman of Ajoni Local Council Development Area, Micheal Ogungbemi, who confirmed the incident, said the gunmen 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.
The council boss said: “I just returned from the scene of the incident along Oke-Ako road and I can confirm that two traditional rulers; the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti and the 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 occurred.
“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 pleaded with the Federal Government to approve the use of arms by local security outfits, said such attacks have been recurring in the area 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 operatives carry arms because the traditional ruler who escaped told us the gunmen were carrying AK-47 rifles and other weapons, while our people were carrying dane guns. These people are killing us and it is becoming unbearable.”
Speaking, the secretary of Majority Obas of Ekiti Land (MOBEL) and the Onikun of Ikun-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde David Olushola, said the time has come for the government to localise security system in order to address the insecurity in the land.
