Gunmen Break Into Palace, Abduct Monarch In Ondo

By Ayodele Oni

Fear has gripped residents in Akoko area of Ondo State as gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, abducted a Traditional Ruler in the area.

The Monarch, Oba Clement Jimoh Olukotun, the Oloso of Oso-Ajowa, in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, was kidnapped inside his palace.

It was gathered on Friday that the abductors laid siege at the popular Monarch ’s Palace around 10:05pm, on Thursday, forcing their way inside and whisked the Traditional Ruler away to an unknown destination. Currently, tension grips the town which shares border with Kogi state.

A family source revealed that the gunmen shot sporadically and destroyed the monarch’s main door with their gun to gain access into his residential building before his abduction.

The source said upon getting to the residence, the gunmen knocked on the door and realizing that the occupants were not ready to yield to their request to willingly succumb, they broke the main door and destroyed it completely.

He added that the gunshot pellets pierced the door and wall into the living room, but said none of the occupants was hit or injured.

The source stated further that the sounds of the gunshots had terrified the residents of the border town, as none of them could come out of their residence for a rescue mission.

His words: “When they came, they surrounded the building and started ordering the monarch and other occupants to open the door and surrender willingly, but nobody answered.

“At this point, they started shooting. They destroyed the main door and entered. They terrorized Kabiyesi and his family members before dragging him out and took him away. None of the family members had been contacted, but we knew they were kidnappers.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ondo State Command, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami confirmed the development.

“It is true but the details of the incident is still not clear. However, Police from the Divisional Police Headquarters at Oke-Agbe, headquarters of Akoko Northwest Local Government Area of Ondo State, have been deployed in the town to launch investigation into the incident.”