Two traditional rulers have been attacked and killed by gunmen suspected to be bandits in Ekiti community.
Three traditional rulers, the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin, the Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba both in Ikole local government area of the state and Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti Oba Olatunde Samuel Olusola in Oye local government area of the state were said to be involved in the incident.
The Elesun and Onimojo were shot dead by the assailants while the Alara escaped.
The trio were said to be travelling on the Oke-Ako Road in Ikole local government area of the state in a car driven by Alara when they were returning from a security meeting in Irele Ekiti when the evil men struck.
The driver of the car, who escaped unhurt from the scene, was said to have run into the bush and later went back to the town to report the incident.
When contacted, the chairman of the Ajoni local council development area, Prince Michael Ogungbemi, confirmed the incident.
He said the traditional leaders were killed as the gunmen made an attempt to kidnap them.
The police public relations officer in the state, DSP Sunday Abutu, said, “I will get the details and get back please.”
Ogungbemi, who expressed regret over the killing of the monarchs, said local security operatives and the Amotekun Corps have been mobilised to go after the perpetrators and arrest them.
He said, “I just returned from the scene of the unfortunate incident on 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; he was the one driving 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.
While lamenting incessant kidnapping in the axis he appealed to the federal government to approve usage of sophisticated arms for local security outfits in the state.
Also, the secretary of Majority Obas of Ekiti Land (MOBEL) and Onikun of Ikun-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde David Olushola, who condemned the killing of the traditional rulers, said the time had come for the government to localise security system in order to address the growing insecurity in the land.
“The two traditional rulers were active members of our association (MOBEL) and it is very sad.
“We have been talking over the years but the 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 an issue about money, the government should immediately sit down with the traditional rulers for us to secure our land and maintain peace,” he said.
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