Suspected lunatic stabs monarch to death in Ekiti

ODO-ORO community in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti has been thrown into confusion following the killing of the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Gbadebo Ogunsakin, by a suspected lunatic.

Members of the community told newsmen on Monday, that the traditional ruler was stabbed with a knife by the allegedly mentally derailed person, shortly after the monarch had concluded a meeting with his chiefs.

Oba Ogunsakin, who was said to have ascended the throne of “Onise” of Odo-Oro-Ekiti in 1986, according to some members of the community, was attacked as soon as he finished the community council’s meeting and was about to board his official car from his palace to his residence.

They said: “All we heard was a cry for help from the traditional ruler’s driver shortly after the council’s meeting.

“On getting there, we saw our traditional ruler in a pool of blood, as Kunle had stabbed him with a knife in the chest.

“We tried rushing him to the hospital, but Oba Ogunsakin gave up the ghost.”

The man with mental illness was identified simply as Kunle, and he was allegedly from the same royal family of the slain Oba Ogunsakin.

The sources also claimed that the mentally challenged person was earlier seen before the Monday morning meeting by some chiefs before the council’s meeting and that they had seen him sitting on the throne before he was chased away.

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Angry youths had taken to the streets in protest and in search of the suspected culprit and had mounted roadblocks on major junctions in the town as they searched.

Kunle, the sources claimed, had taken to his heels immediately after he allegedly committed the crime.

Chiefs and other community leaders declined comments on the incident and were said to be in an emergency meeting.

Meanwhile, markets in Ikole-Ekiti were deserted following the incident, as many buyers and sellers who come from nearby communities had to run for their safety.

Reacting, the Public Relations Officer of Ekiti State Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said “it is true the incidence actually happened and policemen have swooped into action.

“The person alleged is an unsound mind and he actually escaped into the bush after committing the crime. Our men are combing the bush to fetch the suspect out.

” All I can say for now is that the suspect is within reach and will be put into custody.”