In a shocking turn of events, the peaceful communities of Imojo, Esun Ekiti, and Ara Ekiti were thrown into chaos as two monarchs were brutally killed and five school children were kidnapped along the Ipao-Oke Ako Road. The Onimojo of Imojo, Oba Olatunde Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, fell victim to gunmen in an ambush, while the Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, narrowly escaped.
The kidnapped pupils, students of Apostolic Nursery and Primary School in Emure-Ekiti, are now at the center of a harrowing situation, with the abductors demanding a staggering N30 million ransom for their release. Sources close to the affected families revealed that the kidnappers reached out, demanding the ransom in a distressing plea for the children’s freedom.
Responding to the escalating crisis, a joint operation team comprising the Ekiti State Police Command, Amotekun, OPC, Civil Defence, and Local Hunters, apprehended five suspected kidnappers during a thorough combing operation through Oke-Osun, Ikere/Igbo-Okah to the thick forest around Iju/Ikere boundary. The suspects, claiming to be herdsmen, were found with incriminating items, including two motorcycles, a cutlass, a jack knife/dagger, and four phones.
The slain traditional rulers’ deaths cast a somber mood over the affected communities, with Chairman of the Ajoni Local Council Development Area, Micheal Ogungbemi, confirming the retrieval of their bodies from the scene.
News of the incidents prompted an immediate response from Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who urged Ekiti residents not to lose hope and assured them of heightened security measures to rescue the kidnapped children. President Bola Tinubu, expressing outrage, ordered security agencies to rescue the abducted victims and vowed that the killers of the traditional rulers would face justice.
In response to the urgent call, the Ekiti and Ondo Police commands launched a joint rescue operation, emphasizing their commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Families of the kidnapped children, joined by concerned students and leaders, organized a peace walk in Ado-Ekiti, appealing for swift government intervention to ensure the safe return of the pupils and restore security in the region. The Federation of Ekiti State Students’ Union (FESSU) led the peaceful demonstration, emphasizing the right to education in a secure environment.
President Tinubu, in a statement, condemned the senseless killing of the traditional rulers and pledged relentless efforts to ensure justice prevails. The former monarchs’ chairman, Oba Gabriel Ayodele Adejuwon, mourned the loss, urging unity against violence and injustice.
Amidst the crisis, political figures voiced their concerns, with the Southwest PDP lambasting Governor Oyebanji for the state’s worsening insecurity. Atiku Abubakar called on President Tinubu to step aside, accusing him of negligence during a crucial time.
The Senate summoned security chiefs for an urgent meeting next week, addressing the pervasive insecurity and kidnappings across the nation. The House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, expressed worry over rising insecurity and proposed a National Legislative Security Summit.
The crisis in Ekiti adds to a grim picture of widespread kidnappings, with over 180 persons abducted in Abuja, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Niger between December 2023 and January 2024. The Senate’s call for urgent security measures underscores the severity of the situation, demanding decisive actions to restore safety and order across the nation.
As the nation grapples with these shocking developments, the eyes of the public remain fixed on the authorities, expecting swift and effective responses to bring perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of citizens.
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