Police arrest 13 suspects in connection with killing of two Ekiti monarchs

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has disclosed that it arrested 13 suspects in connection with the killing of two monarchs in Ekiti State.

ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, said that measures had also been taken to address the security challenge in the state.

On Monday, gunmen killed two monarchs – Onimojo of Imojo, Oba Olatunde Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, while the Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, narrowly escaped.

The traditional rulers were returning from a security meeting in Kogi State when they ran into an ambush mounted by the kidnappers who were operating on the highway between Ipao and Oke Ako in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

Also in the same area, kidnappers attacked a school bus and whisked away five pupils of the Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, two teachers, bus assistant and the bus driver.

According to the FPRO, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, strongly condemned the killing of the traditional rulers and the abduction of pupils and teachers in Ekiti State.

He added that in order to address the security challenges, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, Abiodun Asabi, had been deployed to Zone 17, Akure, Ondo State.

“The assigned AIG will coordinate a comprehensive security response to end the unfortunate incidents in Ekiti and parts of Ondo. Thirteen suspects have been arrested in connection with the incidents, and the IGP assures the public of the NPF’s commitment to ensuring justice and preventing a recurrence. The public is urged to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative as efforts are made to restore peace and security in the affected areas,” Adejobi said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ekiti State Traditional Council and Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, has said that monarchs in the state would embrace all methods to find a solution to the security challenges in the state.

Oba Faboro, who said the council would not disclose the tactics to be deployed by the traditional council, assured the public that in no time, the problem of insecurity would be a thing of the past in the state.

The traditional ruler spoke shortly after an emergency meeting the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, held with all monarchs in the state and security chiefs.

“Any solution is acceptable, we will approach our problem with every possible solution,” Oba Faboro said.