How two Ekiti monarchs were murdered –  survivor 

By Bose Adelaja

CITIZENS COMPASS —The Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, has narrated how two of his colleagues were murdered in cold blood. 

He was speaking over the weekend, in an interview with an online television presenter, Awikonko, monitored by our correspondent. 

The monarch said the attackers were three in number but none of them understood the English Language. 

Narrating his experience, he said the attackers came from different directions when the vehicle conveying the traditional rulers approached a black stop. 

He said before the ugly incident, he, being the leader of a security committee in the area had stationed two local guards near the black spot unfortunately, there was no help from any quarter during the attack. 

Recall that on Monday, January 29, 2024, three traditional rulers were ambushed but one of them survived the attack. 

It was gathered that two traditional rulers—the Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olushola and the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin, were killed in the ambush, while Oba Adebayo Fatoba, the Alara of Ara Ikole-Ekiti, escaped from the scene. 

Narrating his experience, Oba Fatoba said, “There is a security committee at the local governments level and 25 communities are under it some of which had been invaded by Fulani herdsmen. 

“We consulted the Council to see if we can assist them in this regard and this was approved, so, I headed that committee ably assisted by one of the late monarchs and we dedicated ourselves to the course of the Yoruba race. 

“The herdsmen invade some houses at Ayebode and Ayedun killing a resident, and my attention was drawn to this. 

This was on a Sunday and I promised to come on Monday. 

“One of the late monarchs, a professor, was like a younger brother to me and he left Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure, Ondo State for Oye to join us. 

“We have done enough findings on the matter and we wanted to stop over at Irele to see the monarch of the land but later changed our minds because 6p.m was approaching. 

“About 600 metres from Irele, we got to a black spot where we were attacked by three herdsmen. I was busy with my phone when they descended on us with dangerous items. 

“Three of them came from different directions, commanded the driver to stop and they seized the car key. 

The driver laid flat in awe though a vehicle was coming behind but nobody could help us. 

“I was the first to be attacked with a cutlass while they shot sporadically but I managed to escape and ran as far as I could to alert the local guards near the scene but he was afraid and by the time I looked back, both traditional rulers I left behind had been killed.

The local guard cocked his gun in an attempt to shoot but was jittery. 

One of the guards alerted the traditional ruler of the town who in turn alerted other residents. “

He said none of the attackers understood the English Language. 

Citizens Compass reported that the monarchs were returning from a security meeting in Irele-Ekiti in a vehicle being driven by a driver when they were attacked by gunmen along a community in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Monday.