The Alara of Ara-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, has shared the details of his narrow escape from the kidnappers who killed two other traditional rulers during a recent security meeting last week in Ekiti State.
According to The Nation, it was reported that Oba Fatoba, clarified that contrary to speculation, he did not disappear from the scene, and emphasized that his survival was due to divine grace, as the bullets fired at him failed to penetrate his body.
Recall that last week, it was reported that some gunmen ambushed and killed the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, and the Onimojo of Imojo, Oba Olatunde Olusola, on Irele road while they were returning from a security meeting.
The Alara narrated how they were attacked, as he spoke about the bravery of the late Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, and Oba Olatunde Olusola. He acknowledged their sacrifice, noting that they were courageous leaders who laid down their lives for the peace of their communities and the entirety of Yoruba land.
When he was talking, he said they never knew that the kidnappers were many when they were attacked on the road, because about three of them pointed guns at them. And they tried to struggle with them but they began to fire at them from different angles. He said the bullets did not penetrate his body, but he realised that the kidnappers were fully armed with sophisticated weapons. And they ran from the scene to a checkpoint that was mounted by their local hunters.
He said, “But seeing the firearms in the hands of the kidnappers, the local hunters couldn’t advance. I even asked one of our local hunters to return fire, but his Dane gun could not work. By the time I looked back, I saw my fellow obas in the pool of their blood.”
Further talking, Oba Fatoba said, “It was really a very sad experience. My colleague monarchs sacrificed their lives, and died for their people. I would admit that the bullets did not penetrate through my body but I did not disappear, as being speculated.”
