Suspected Herdsmen Kills Two Traditional Rulers In Ekiti, One Escapes

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen carried out a deadly attack on Monday in Ekiti State, resulting in the tragic deaths of two traditional rulers.

It was gathered that the tragic incident occurred between Oke-Ako and Ipao-Ekiti in Ajoni Local Government Area of the state.

The victims, namely the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin, and the Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olushola, were ambushed by the gunmen while returning from a meeting.

According to Oodua News, another monarch, the Alara of Ara-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, narrowly escaped when the armed men confronted them and attempted to forcibly take them away.

“They were travelling together. The armed herdsmen stopped them and rained bullets on them. They took their personal belongings and dragged their bodies into the bush,” Oodua News quoted a source as saying.

When contacted, the Ekiti State Police Command’s spokesman, DSP Sunday Abutu, said that detailed information would be provided later.

Expressing his sorrow over the incident, the chairman of the Ajoni Local Council Development Area, Micheal Ogungbemi, revealed that the gunmen attempted to abduct the three traditional rulers.

Ogungbemi, distressed by the loss, mobilized local security forces, including the Amotekun corps, to conduct a thorough search of the forest in an effort to apprehend the perpetrators.

“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,” he said.

Ogungbemi appealed to the federal government for approval to arm local security outfits in the state, citing the escalating attacks over the past few years.

He stressed the urgent need to address the growing security concerns and protect the communities effectively.

“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,” he said.

Similarly, the secretary of Majority Obas of Ekiti Land (MOBEL) and Onikun of Ikun-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde David Olushola, condemned the killings and called for a localized security system.

He urged the government to collaborate with traditional rulers to secure the communities and ensure lasting peace, emphasizing the necessity of addressing the issue beyond financial considerations.

“The two traditional rulers were active members of our association(MOBEL) and it is very sad. We have been talking over the years but government is paying lip service to the issue of security.

“The time has come for them to localize the issue of security and sit down with the traditional rulers to secure our communities, we know what to do.

“This is not issue about money , government should immediately sit down with the traditional rulers for us to secure our land and maintain peace,” he said.

KanyiDaily had also reported how Chief David Obadofin, the traditional ruler of Aghara, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, was tortured to death in kidnappers’ den.