Gunmen invade palace, kidnap traditional ruler in Ekiti

Gunmen on Thursday invaded the palace of Ilemeso Ekiti, Oba David Oyewumi, in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State and kidnapped the monarch.

Police authorities confirmed the abduction of the traditional ruler on Friday.

Sunday Abutu, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, narrated that the gunmen scaled the fence of the palace and released several gunshots before taking the monarch to an unknown destination.

Abutu, however, stated that the police command was undeterred in its determination to overrun crime in the state despite emerging cases of kidnap and ambush.

Thursday’s incident occurred a week after another traditional ruler, Adetutu Ajayi, was attacked by gunmen in the state.

Ajayi, who is the traditional ruler of Ewu Ekiti in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of the state, was shot by gunmen last Friday while on transit to a neighbouring town in Ido/Osi Local Government Area.

After the incident, the monarch was taken to a hospital for treatment while the police command said it had swung into action to unravel those behind the criminal act and bring them to book.