It's been reported that gunmen allegedly shot the traditional Chiefs (Baales) of Keleu village, Saibu Razaq, and Abule-Oko Village, Sesi Ọdunjo, while heading back from a Council of Baales meeting at Obalade Abule Oba village in Ogun State.
It's been learned that the incident took place around 4 pm on Thursday, between Alabe and Okesa villages in the Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.
PUNCH Online also learned that a member of the Social Orientation and Safety Corps who arrived at the scene after hearing about the shootings in the area was reportedly killed by the gunmen.
According to a police source who was aware of the report but chose to remain anonymous as they were not authorized to speak for the command, the two local chiefs sustained gunshot wounds in the head and shoulders, respectively, when the gunmen suddenly emerged from the bush and began shooting at them.
A police officer stated, “One of the Baales sustained gunshot wounds in the shoulder, and another had a wound in the head. They were returning from their Council of Oba’s meeting when about five hoodlums emerged from the bush and started shooting at them.
“They were taken to the hospital where they are currently receiving treatment. Some of the villagers alerted the SO SAFE officials stationed at a nearby village. But as soon as they arrived at the scene, the hoodlums opened fire on them, killing one of them instantly while the others sustained gunshot wounds.”
When contacted on Friday, the state Police Public Relations officer, Odutola Omolola, confirmed the incident and said that the two Baales had been taken to the hospital for treatment.
She said “The Baales who were shot are stable in the hospital. The vigilante corps member that was shot was said to have responded to the incident with two other corps officers unarmed and without waiting for the Divisional Police to move in a team to chase the gunmen.
“Unfortunately, the vigilante commander was shot, and before doctors could attend to him, he gave up the ghost.
“Witnesses accounts have not yet determined the language they heard the fleeing suspects speak, and the exact motive of the alleged attack is still unknown since no valuables were taken from the victims.
“The divisional police officer, along with Vigilante, hunters, SO-Safe, and Amotekun, have continued combing operations in an effort to gather more clues to the incident.
The PUNCH reported in January 2024 that gunmen suspected to be herdsmen killed two traditional rulers in Ekiti State on Monday in an incident that was said to have happened between Oke-Ako and Ipao-Ekiti in the Ajoni Local Government Area of the state.
The duo of Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area and Elesun of Esun Ekiti in Ajoni, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, were also returning from a meeting when some gunmen emerged from the bush and opened fire at them.
The Ekiti State Police Command later confirmed the arrest of one suspect linked to the killing of two traditional rulers.
