Gunmen kill two monarchs in Ekiti

Gunmen suspected to be herders on Monday killed two traditional leaders in Ekiti State.

The incident allegedly occurred at Ajoni Local Government Area, between Oke-Ako and Ipao-Ekiti. The leaders, Elesun of Esun Ekiti in Ajoni, LGA and Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti in Oye LGA, both in the state, were killed. At the same time, the Alara of Ara in Ikole LGA narrowly escaped when the armed men accosted and attempted to abduct them while returning from a meeting.

“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.” a report said. 

Confirming the incident, the chairman of Ajoni Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Prince Michael Ogungbemi, said gunmen killed the leaders as they tried to abduct them. He added that the Amotekun and local security have been mobilised to go after the criminals.

“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.

Meanwhile, Secretary of Majority Obas of Ekiti Land (MOBEL) and Onikun of Ikun-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde David Olushola, condemned the killing of the traditional leaders and called on the government to localise the security system to address growing threats in the land. 

“We have been talking over the years, but the government is paying lip service to the security issue. The time has come for them to localise the issue of security and sit down with traditional rulers to secure our communities; we know what to do.”

The police have yet to confirm the incident when filing this report.  

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