Late Oba Gbadebo Ogunsakin of Odo-Oro Ekiti.
The Odo-Oro-Ekiti, a community in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti was on Monday thrown into mourning as a mentally derailed person was said to have stabbed to death the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Gbadebo Ogunsakin.
An eye witness told our correspondent that the traditional ruler was stabbed with knife by the mentally derailed person shortly after late traditional ruler had a Council meeting with his chiefs.
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of Ekiti State Police Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu said,”It is true the incidence actually happened and that police men had swooped into action.
“The person alleged is of an unsound mind and he actually escaped into the bush after committing the crime, our men are combing the bush to fetch the suspect.
” All I can say for now is that the suspect is within reach and will be put to custody.”
According to one of the residents, Mr Henry Olu, the mentally derailed person, whose name was only given as Kunle was said to be from the royal family of the slain traditional ruler.
He said the mentally challenged person was earlier seen this morning by some chiefs before the council’s meeting sitting on the traditional throne(Chair) of his victim before he was chased away.
Another source said the traditional ruler was attacked as soon as he finished the community council meeting trying to board his official car from his palace to his residence.
Another source, who does not want his name mentioned 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 knife in the chest.
“We tried rushing him to the hospital, but Oba Ogunsakin gave up the ghost,” the source said.
Some irate youths from the community took to the streets with some of them carrying dangerous weapons like sticks, cutlasses and broken bottles in search of the person alleged to have stabbed the traditional ruler.
The youths mounted road blocks on major junctions that led to the community during the search.
The person who allegedly stabbed the king was said to have run away immediately he committed the crime and could not be traced as at the time of filing this report.
All attempt to speak with one of the chiefs in the community proved abortive, as they were said to be in an emergency meeting on the burial rite of the late Oba.
A market closed to the palace Ikole-Ekiti was deserted as many buyers and sellers who came from nearby communities had to run for their safety.
The late Oba Ogunsakin ascended the throne of “Onise” of Odo-Oro-Ekiti in 1986.
