Traditional rulers in Ekiti State, have condemned the shooting of the Elewu of Ewu Ekiti in the Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Oba Adetutu Ajayi, by gunmen on Friday evening, leading to his hospitalisation.
Oba Ajayi, who was travelling along Ewu Ekiti-Ayetoro Ekiti Road, was attacked by armed men suspected to be kidnappers, who shot at his car. The monarch was said to be receiving medical attention at a tertiary hospital in the state after sustaining gunshot injuries.
The attack on the traditional ruler came barely 24 hours after gunmen invaded a petrol station at Isan Ekiti in neighbouring Oye LGA and abducted the manager of the station, Itakorodo Adebayo, after indiscriminate shooting.
The Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, who spoke on behalf of the monarchs in the state on Saturday, said, “The perpetrators of the heinous crime must immediately be apprehended by security agents and given swift prosecution.”
Oba Alabi, in a statement by his media adviser, Chief Ajibade Olubunmi, titled ‘Ekiti traditional rulers condemn shooting of Elewu of Ewu Ekiti,’ expressed worry “at the increasing rate of banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminal activities in Nigeria.
He called on security agents to intensify their efforts to tackle crime throughout the country and prayed for the quick recovery of the traditional ruler.
A source, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, said, “The monarch was travelling in his car to Ayetoro in the neighbouring Ido/Osi LGA when the bandits waylaid him and in his attempt to escape, they pursued him and rained bullets on his car.
“The bullets hit him in the legs, arms and stomach. The traditional ruler is now receiving treatment in a tertiary hospital in Ekiti.”
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, who regretted the attack, said the perpetrators would be caught and brought to book, while the police would stop at nothing to alleviate crimes in the state.
Abutu, in a statement titled ‘Attack on Elewu of Ewu Ekiti: Police vow to bring perpetrators to book,’ said there was an ongoing operation in the state “aimed at dislodging and apprehending the miscreants in their hideouts as directed by the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Tunde Mobayo.” (Punch)
