Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has condemned Monday’s dastardly attack in Oke-Ako area in Ikole Local Government, which led to the gruesome killing of two traditional rulers; and ordered security agencies in the state to fish out the killers.
The two traditional rulers- the Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olusola and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsola were killed in an ambush by armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen while returning from a meeting. The third traditional ruler, the Alara of Ara –Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba escaped the attack.
Governor Oyebanji, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, said security agents have been despatched to the area to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
The Governor, who had just presided over the state security council meeting in Ado-Ekiti, barely an hour before the incidence occurred, said no stone will be left unturned in the bid to bring the perpetrators to justice.
He expressed the condolences of the Government and people of Ekiti State to the people of Imojo Ekiti and Esun Ekiti over the sad incidence.
The Governor also urged the people of the two towns to remain calm and refrain from taking the laws into their own hands. Government, he said, would ensure that justice is served.
Governor Oyebanji charged security agencies in the state to remain vigilant and resolute in the efforts to stamp out crime and criminality from the state.
Restating the commitment of his government to security of lives and properties of citizens in the state, the Governor said his administration would continue to deploy technology for crime detection and prevention, as well as provide necessary support for security agencies in the state.
Eyewitnesses revealed that the Alara of Ara in Ikole Local Government escaped when the armed men accosted them and attempted to forcefully take them away. The incidence took place on Monday evening between Oke-Ako and Ipao Ekiti, located in Ajoni Local Governmenr area. The traditional rulers were coming from a meeting when the incident happened.
“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” one eye witness told said. He said the Alara of Ara Ekiti escaped. A source said they were coming from a meeting where security issues were discussed
He said the attackers were armed Fulani men who have been operating in that area for the past five years. They fired many bullets at the Alara but he was lucky. He escaped from the scene and ran away” the source said.
Sources told our correspondent that as at press time, Amotekun operatives have been mobilised into the area.
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