By Oluwaseun Kehinde Oso
Few days ago, three traditional rulers in Ekiti state, the Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olusola, Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Ona David Babatunde Ogunsakin and Alaba of Ara-Ekiti, Ona Adebayo Fatoba were ambushed by armed bandits on Monday on their return from a security meeting at Irele-Ekiti, Oke ako and Ipao Ekiti axis located in Ajoni Local, LCDa under Ikole Ekiti Local Government area of Ekiti state.
While the Alara of Ara escapes from the bandits, the two other traditional rulers, Onimojo and Elesun were killed by the armed bandits who attacked them at Oke-Ako area in Ikole Local Government Area of the state.
In this interview, the escaped Traditional ruler, Alara of Ara, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, has narrated his experience. He narrated how the assailants killed his two counterparts who were in the vehicle with him during the attack. excerpt:
Question. Before the incident occurred, three of you went on a journey, how did the journey begin?
Answer We have a 25-man Security Committee which comprises all 25 communities in Ikole LGA. When our town faced a problem, heads men were coming in. We thought about it and we took permission from the Police to establish our own security team, of which I was the Chairman. My late colleague who fell on the line of duty was my vice chairman.We dedicated ourselves to fighting for Ikole Local Government and by Extension, the yoruba land.
My late colleague reported attacks on households in Ayebode and Ayedun, which led to the loss of one life. I assured him to not fret, telling him I’d be coming on Monday.
Meanwhile the other king who accompanied us, a Professor, whom I take as a younger brother, has had a discussion with me about his relocation form Futa to fuoye.
This was what we were discussing as we went we arrived our destination and we were headed back. We pit stopped at ìrele on our way there but on our way back I advised against pit stopping once again at ìrelẹ because the time was far spent. We were about six or 700 meters past, when the kidnappers stopped us.
I was on my phone, then I Heard a loud bang, next I saw guns blazing, through the wind shield.
We were asked to put our hands up.
They used machete on me and shot me severally, afterwards. They do not really understand English. They possesed machete, AK 47, locally made cartridge amongst others they wanted to hit me with their weapons but it hit the vehicle instead.
I held it and dragged it then I escaped into the bush. Following that I could only hear gun shots.
Against popular assumptions that I disappeared, It’s not so. Only their guns didn’t affect me.
I ran so I could inform the guards we stated at the nearest checkpoint of the situation. The place was a hotspot, so we station guards close the place. They were supposed to come to our rescue, because we pay them. But they were scared because of the sporadic gunshots.
They didn’t concentrate on my driver, because of the way he was dressed. They switched of the vehicle and defended on the next person.
Question. Many people believe that you disappeared, alongside your driver.
Answer. I didn’t disappear Two attacked from the one side, one from my side. They were concentrated on their assult. After the key to the vehicle was snatched, attention was shifted away from my driver and he escaped, crawling into the bush.
They shot me several times, and the bullets came out actively but it could not penetrate me, but i did not disappeared. I thank God because the bullet didn’t hit me and the machete could not harm me.
Question. That means, after the gunshots, you didn’t know when they left the spot?
Answer. I had Already left after the sounds of gunshot. I only turned back to see my colleagues dead. I tried however, to warn other oncoming vehicles. While I was back in the vehicle, I commanded the assailants to hold their fire and machete, as it could not affect me. But I had to run in case they used another means.
Question. Who called for rescue
Answer. A guard nearby called an Oba who called the security operatives and i still led the local security men back to the scene but we could not overpower them because the dane gun which the local hunters with me were carrying couldn’t work effective and so couldn’t match the guns which the assailants came with.