Ekiti monarchs have raised an alarm over the kidnap of the Obadu of Ilemeso-Ekiti, Oba David Oyewumi and the attack of the Elewu of Ewu Ekiti, Oba Adetutu Ajayi by armed gunmen.
Newsflash Nigeria on Thursday had reported that the Obadu of Ilemeso-Ekiti, Oba David Oyewumi, was kidnapped in his palace on Thursday evening by suspected gunmen in Oye Local Government Area of the state.
Newsflash Nigeria gathered that the gunmen, numbering six scaled the traditional ruler’s fence and fired several shots into the air to scare its occupants.
The incident happened at about 8.30 p.m. on Thursday night when the chiefs who visited the place had left.
“After they gained entry, the gunmen asked after the Oba which showed that they really came for him,’’ one of the sources said.
Ilemeso town is not far away to Isan Ekiti, the hometown of Governor Kayode Fayemi.
This incident happened few days after the Elewu of Ewu Ekiti, Oba Adetutu Ajayi, in Ilejemeje Local Government Area was attacked by masked gunmen.
Newsflash Nigeria had earlier reported that the gunmen attacked the monarch along the Ayetoro Ekiti-Ewu Road by firing at his vehicle and attempting to kill him.
It was gathered that the monarch was traveling in his official car to the neighboring Ayetoro Ekiti, in Ido/Osi Local Government Area when the gunmen struck.
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Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers on Friday called for the deployment of troops in the state following attacks and kidnap of royal fathers by gunmen.
The Chairman of the council and Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, made the call in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Friday.
The traditional rulers’ call came following the kidnap of Oba Oyewumi and the foiled kidnap of Oba Ajayi.
The chairman stressed the need to deploy troops to the state to assist the police in flushing kidnappers and terrorists.
Oba Ajibade described attacks and kidnap of royal fathers in the state as “embarrassing, worrisome and troubling’’.
He urged the police to swing into action and rescue the traditional ruler.
The traditional ruler appealed to residents of the various communities in the state to give useful information on suspicious persons and movements.
The statement read,
“The Chairman of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, the Alawe of Ilawe- Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi AFUNTADE 1, has called on the police in Ekiti State to swing into action in rescuing the traditional ruler of Ilemeso -Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Oba David Oyewumi who was whisked away from his palace by kidnappers yesterday, 15th April 2021.
“Speaking in his palace in Ilawe-Ekiti today, 16th April 2021 on behalf of all traditional rulers in the State, the Alawe who described the situation as embarrassing, worrisome and troubling, asked the police to spread its dragnets all over the state as well as increase patrols both day and night to stop the kidnappers from having free movement in Ekiti.
“The monarch suggested that more personnel should be recruited into the Amotekun Security outfit in addition to equipping the outfit with requisite gadgets in order to monitor all routes and forests in Ekiti.
“The Chairman of the Ekiti traditional rulers further suggested that the Army should be brought in at this stage to support other security outfits in flushing out all kidnappers from Ekiti forests and their hideouts.
“Oba Alabi urged members of the various communities in Ekiti to always give useful information on unusual movements of strange faces to security agents.
Oba David Oyewumi, the Obadu of Ilemeso Ekiti was kidnapped in his palace yesterday, the 15th of April 2021 by gunmen who scaled the fence of his palace.”
