Ekiti governor, Oyebanji, reacts to killing of 2 royal fathers by gunmen, vows to apprehend killers

Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, on Tuesday, pledged that the killers of two traditional rulers in the state would soon be apprehended and made to face justice.

Oyebanji stated this when he visited the families of the late Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Olusola and the late Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, to commiserate with them.

The two royal fathers were, on Monday, ambushed and killed by gunmen on their way from a meeting in Irele-Ekiti.

The traditional rulers were killed in a vehicle driven by another royal father, the Alara of Ara Ikole-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, who, however, managed to escape from the scene.

The governor, accompanied by some top government functionaries, politicians and heads of security agencies in the state, said that the perpetrators of the heinous act would not go unpunished.

Oyebanji, who described the killing of the two notable traditional rulers in the state as very unfortunate, commiserated with the bereaved families, the people of the two towns as well as the traditional institution in the state.

He, however, commended the people of the affected towns over what he described as their peaceful disposition to the gruesome killing of the traditional rulers.

Describing security as the joint responsibilities of both the government and the citizens, the governor urged the people of the state to continue to assist security operatives by giving timely information.

He promised to assist the bereaved families and particularly, Imojo community to completion the palace which is still under construction.

Speaking earlier, the Elejira of Imojo, Chief Ayodele Dada, described the death of the traditional ruler as a painful one.

Dada, who is the second-in-command to the Onimojo, said that the late oba, since his ascension to the throne, had initiated several development projects in the town.

He expressed the regret over what he called frequent kidnappings in the area in the last few months.

Dada called on government to double its efforts in the area of provision of security for lives and property of the people of the state.

Some indigenes of the two towns, who spoke on the death of the two traditional rulers, described their killing as unfortunate and a great loss to the two communities.