Police nab 13 over monarchs’ killing, pupils’ kidnap in Ekiti

No fewer than 13 suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of two monarchs in Ekiti State, the Nigeria Police Force reveals.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, stated on Thursday that measures had also been taken to address the security challenge in the state.

On Monday, gunmen assassinated two Ekiti monarchs: the 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 encountered an ambush by kidnappers on the highway between Ipao and Oke Ako in Ekiti’s Ikole Local Government Area.

In the same region, kidnappers ambushed a school bus and abducted five students from the Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, three teachers, and the bus driver.

According to the FPRO, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, issued a statement strongly condemning the assassination of traditional rulers and the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Ekiti.

He consequently noted that to solve the security concerns, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, Abiodun Asabi, had been dispatched 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.

The Chairman of the Ekiti State Traditional Council and Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, told reporters on Wednesday that monarchs in the state would embrace all methods to find a solution to the security crisis in the state.

Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, Chairman of the Ekiti State Traditional Council and Olojudo of Ido Ekiti told the press on Wednesday that the state’s monarchs will consider all options to address the state’s security situation.

Oba Faboro, who stated that the council would not disclose the measures to be used by the traditional council, guaranteed the people that the state’s insecurity problem would be resolved in no time.

The oba said, “Any solution is acceptable; we will approach our problem with every possible solution.’’