Ekiti state monarchs have threatened to invoke traditional methods including the Yoruba gods against kidnappers who are terrorising the state.
On Monday, they killed two Ekiti monarchs-the Onimojo of Imojo, Oba Olatunde Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, while the Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, narrowly escaped.
The traditional rulers were returning from a function in Kogi State on Monday when they ran into an ambush mounted by the kidnappers who were operating on the highway between Ipao and Oke Ako in the Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
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Also in the same area, kidnappers attacked a school bus and whisked away five pupils of the Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, three teachers, and the bus driver.
Speaking on the security issue, the Chairman of Ekiti State Traditional Council and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, said monarchs in the state would embrace all methods to find a solution to the security crisis in the state.
Oba Faboro, who said the council would not disclose the tactics to be deployed by the traditional council, assured that in no time, the problem of insecurity would be history in the state.
The government has to empower the traditional rulers to do all they want to secure their communities. This will include local security and fortification,” the monarch further stated.
The Onikun of Ikun Ekiti, Oba Olatunde David Olusola, who corroborated Oba Adedeji, on the return to alternative traditional solution, said, “The security of our people is our responsibility as grassroots leaders. If Obas are being killed like chickens, I don’t think we can accept such a situation.
“This can be done by embracing the traditional and all other methods possible to avert any causality and to make sure there is peace in Ekiti State. We will use any method possible to ensure peace in Ekiti, we are not cowards. Enough is enough,” Oba Olusola added.
Also speaking, the Olukere of Odo Oja Ikere Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin, who described the killing of two traditional rulers as a sacrilege, said, “It is an abomination to kill traditional rulers as it happened on Monday. We have to appease the gods that such calamity should not befall us again.
