Afrigather Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Monday killed two Ekiti State monarchs on the Ipao-Oke Ako Highway.
This was as civil society teams, below the aegis of the Civil Society Joint Motion Group, mentioned 17,469 Nigerians had been kidnapped below the Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu administrations from 2019 to this point.
The gunmen killed the Onimojo of Imojo within the Oye Native Authorities Space, Oba Olatunde Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti within the Ikole Native Authorities Space, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, whereas the Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba within the Ikole Native Authorities Space, escaped.
Sources mentioned the standard rulers had been getting back from a perform in Kogi State when their automobiles bumped into the suspected kidnappers, who had laid an ambush on the street.
Based on sources, whereas the bandits chased the Alara in a bid to kidnap him, the 2 different monarchs additionally tried to flee however had been shot by the gunmen.
A supply defined, “I known as my father to tell him that I used to be coming to the village tomorrow (Tuesday) however he mentioned I mustn’t come as a result of our monarch was killed by some unknown gunmen.
“He instructed me the Alara of Ara-Ekiti, the Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti had been coming from a perform when their automobile was accosted by the gunmen who shot at them.
“He instructed me that Elesun and Olumojo had been hit by the bullets fired by the gunmen they usually died immediately whereas Alara escaped.”
The Chairman of the Ajoni Native Council Growth Space, Micheal Ogungbemi, in whose area the incident passed off, mentioned that the lifeless our bodies of the 2 obas had been recovered from the scene and brought to a mortuary.
The council boss defined that info indicated that the standard rulers, who had been coming from Kogi State, had been attacked within the Oke Ako space.
LG chairman speaks
Ogungbemi mentioned, “I’ve mobilised the Divisional Police Officer, the Fast Reply Squad, and Amotekun Corps to the place. Now we have recovered the corpses of the kabiyesis to the hospital. The perpetrators are bandits as a result of Kabiyesi Alara noticed them.
“These killed had been Kabiyesi Elesun and Kabiyesi Onimojo. They had been shot at they usually died immediately. Kabiyesi Alara escaped.
“They had been travelling in a automobile; Kabiyesi Alara drove the automobile. Once they bumped into them, they chased Kabiyesi Alara to the forest. Kabiyesi Elesun and Kabiyesi Onimojo had been making an attempt to flee from the scene when the bandits coming from behind shot at them.
“The monarchs had pushed previous the checkpoint of the native safety outfit when the incident occurred. The Alara, upon escape, knowledgeable the native safety of the event. The bandits had been carrying subtle arms.”
The Onikun of Ikun Ekiti and Secretary of Majority Obas of Ekiti Land, Oba Olatunde David Olusola, who described the incident as unlucky, mentioned the 2 deceased monarchs had been energetic members of the affiliation.
Oba Olusola mentioned, “There’s a want for presidency to rise, now we have been paying lip service to the difficulty of safety. We have to localise the safety system and contain conventional rulers. The federal government should sit down instantly with conventional rulers to vogue out methods to safe our communities. We all know what to do.”
When contacted concerning the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, mentioned it was a case of suspected homicide.
“It’s a suspected case of homicide however particulars will probably be communicated as quickly because it’s obtainable. Vital motion is underway because the tactical and intelligence groups have been deployed in that axis,” he acknowledged.
Addressing a press convention in Abuja on Monday, the Civil Society Joint Motion Group, revealed that 2,423 individuals had been killed, whereas 1,872 others had been kidnapped because the inauguration of President Tinubu.
Talking on behalf of the group, the Govt Director of the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, mentioned insecurity had endured over the past three administrations, with 24,816 Nigerians killed and 15,597 individuals kidnapped within the final administration of President Buhari, between 2019 and 2023.
Out of the overall variety of 17, 469 kidnapped from 2019 and to this point, 90 per cent of the circumstances had been recorded below Buhari, whereas 10 per cent have been recorded below Tinubu.
In the meantime, the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has condemned the dastardly assault on the monarch, which led to the ugly killing of the 2 conventional rulers, and ordered safety companies within the state to fish out the killers.
Oyebanji, in a press release signed by his Particular Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, mentioned safety brokers had been dispatched to the world to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
The governor, who presided over the state safety council assembly in Ado Ekiti, barely an hour earlier than the incident occurred, mentioned that “no stone will probably be left unturned within the bid to convey the perpetrators to justice.”
He expressed the condolences of the federal government and folks of Ekiti State to the folks of Imojo Ekiti and Esun Ekiti over the unhappy incident.
The governor additionally urged the folks of the 2 cities to stay calm and chorus from taking the legal guidelines into their very own palms, saying, “Authorities would be sure that justice is served.
Oyebanji charged safety companies within the state “to stay vigilant and resolute within the efforts to stamp out crime and criminality from the state.”
Restating the dedication of his authorities to the safety of lives and properties of residents within the state, the governor mentioned his administration would proceed to deploy expertise for crime detection and prevention, in addition to present obligatory help for safety companies within the state.
Gani Adams
Additionally, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba, Gami Adams, in an interview with The PUNCH, condemned the assaults and described the insecurity state of affairs within the nation as unlucky.
Based on him, the South-West governors have didn’t companion with native safety outfits to sort out insecurity within the southwest area.
He mentioned, “It is vitally unlucky that the safety state of affairs has gotten to this stage within the nation. Nigeria is in an absolute state of insecurity. The federal government is aware of what to do to resolve this. I’ve pulled greater than 13 totally different organisations collectively on safety, however the authorities refused to companion with us to flush out the prison parts within the South-West.
“As an alternative of politicians working with the principal, they are going to be working with the organisations individually, it gained’t work. If the governors are able to work with us, inside six months, insecurity in Yoruba land will scale back drastically. There are lots of methods to cut back insecurity. Now we have been going through lots of embarrassment on this nation.
“Now we have been having insecurity in different areas within the nation, however not within the South-West which is the financial nerve centre of this nation. In the event that they attain out to me as a result of I’m not positive that I can attain the safety companies immediately with out the instruction of the governors calling them to work with me as a result of I’ve written letters to them for partnership however they refuse. The excuse they provide to you is that they need to get safety clearance from the IG (Inspector-Normal of Police ) whereas the DSS (Division of State Providers) will say the identical. However with the governor, I’m so handy.
“Proper now, we’re in Osun with about 150 delegates from the Diaspora, however as I’m speaking to you, it is just the OPC that’s arranging safety for them. No single policeman to offer cowl for the previous 5 days that now we have been in Osogbo.
On his half, the Osun State Commander, Amotekun Corps, Bashir Adewinbi (retd.) known as on the South-West governors to strengthen the Amotekun Corps to stop the abductors from having a area day.
He additionally advocated stiffer punishment for arrested kidnappers.
Adewinbi mentioned, “We should be very laborious on apprehended kidnappers. The absence of stiffer punishment has emboldened them and since it’s now a enterprise they’re rising in numbers.
The epidemic is rising within the South West because of the spillover of the insecurity we’re having within the Northern elements of the nation. I’ll advise governors of the area to speculate extra in group policing and recruit extra personnel into the Amotekun corps. “
The Head of Transparency Worldwide Nigeria, Awaul Rafesajani, mentioned, “The federal government ought to declare a state of emergency on insecurity. The sooner that is executed the higher. They could really feel they’re protected however criminals get emboldened with the crime they commit and get away with it.”
Expressing anger over the assault, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, known as on the President to be extra proactive in tackling insecurity within the nation.
The Organising Secretary of the group, Chief Kole Omololu, in an interview with The PUNCH, condemned the assault on the royal fathers. He mentioned there was a necessity for the safety companies to be up and doing within the discharge of their responsibility of defending the lives and properties of the folks of the nation.
He mentioned, “It’s with a heavy coronary heart and deep concern we be taught of the ugly kidnapping of 4 Royal fathers in Ekiti State. We notice that two of them had been killed, one escaped and one within the custody of the terrorists. That is too worrisome to bear.
“We name on the president to say on the safety forces for undivided consideration. They should be sweep and decisive in curbing this menace. The audacity of those enemy of the nation is turning into unimaginable actuality, hanging worry within the hearts of our folks.
“The key police of our nation the place are you, how can evil be roaming majestically in our roads and atmosphere undetected, why? The DSS has inquiries to reply.”
Afenifere fumes
The Afenifere chieftain reiterated the decision for the creation of the state and correct arming of South-West Nigeria Safety Community Company also referred to as Amotekun with ammunition, saying this could go a great distance in tackling the menace.
“The time our state governments within the South-West to draft the OPC boys along side Amotekun to our bushes is now. We foretold this that the terrorists would retreat for about six months after the swearing-in of President Bola Tinubu to launch again now.
President ought to by no means permit evil, to intimidate or defeat us, “ Omololu warned.
In the meantime, netizens have taken to social media to specific outrage over the killing of two Obas within the Oke-Ako/Ipao space of Ekiti.
Whereas mourning the monarchs, Fb and X customers additionally expressed dismay over the worsening safety state of affairs within the nation.
A Fb person, Adedibu Ekiti, wrote, “That is sometimes unhealthy information. Elesun of Esun Ekiti And two different Obas in Ikole Native Authorities Space have been attacked by kidnappers alongside Ipao-Oke Ako Highway.”
“Relaxation in peace Your Majesty, the Elesun of Esun Ekiti,” Prince Olokesusi Julius AdeKunle additionally wrote on Fb.
Àlàbí Michael wrote in pidgin English, “All these occurred inside 24 hours. Sunday Igboho don speak am earlier than, however we are saying Igboho na terrorist. Now e don dey occur.”
Nelson Babatunde Olasehinde mentioned, “Too unhappy,” whereas Babayemi Segunbabs wrote, “That is very unhappy information o, OLODUMARE!”
Expressing shock, Mike Bobade wrote “For actual?”
“You’ll be able to’t defend the APC and never sound silly,” Idoma Elejo mentioned on Fb.
Many X customers who posted concerning the incident captioned it “Unhappy information”, “Disturbing information”, and “Disturbing information from Ekiti” amongst others.
