A suspect arrested in connection with the murder of two traditional rulers in the Ikole axis of Ekiti State, known as Baboga, has confessed to his involvement and provided chilling details during a parade before journalists on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti. The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Ekiti, Dare Ogundare, led the press briefing.
On January 29, gunmen fatally attacked the Onimojo of Imojo, Oba Olatunde Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin. In addition to the tragic incident, assailants targeted a school bus in the area, abducting five pupils of the Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, along with three teachers and the bus driver.
During the press conference at the Ekiti State Police Headquarters, Baboga, identified as a herdsman, admitted to participating in the operation alongside four others. He revealed that the group had threatened him with violence if he refused to join them in their criminal activities.
“I am a herdsman, and I have my cows in the bush. The other four threatened to shoot me if I did not join them in the operation. They brought the ammunition, and I was going about in the bush with my cows when they said I should join, and I joined them,” Baboga stated.
He recounted the moment when the group encountered the vehicle carrying the three traditional rulers, claiming they did not initially plan to kill them. However, he couldn’t recall the specific events that led to the tragic outcome. Baboga disclosed that his friends fired at the rulers, and they fled the scene immediately.
“We didn’t plan to kill the traditional rulers, but I can’t remember what happened. My friends shot at them, and we ran away,” he added. Baboga admitted to participating in a previous kidnapping operation with the group, receiving a share of the ransom.
The police disclosed that Baboga was apprehended in a forest between Ayedun and Ayebode through the combined efforts of security agencies. While the suspect has confessed, efforts are ongoing to capture his accomplices. Additional arrests related to the murders were made in Oke Osun, Ikere Ekiti, Igbo Okah, and Iju-Ikere boundary forest.
AIG Ogundare commended the Inspector General of Police and the Ekiti State governor for their prompt intervention, emphasizing that no ransom was paid during the rescue operation for the abducted school pupils and teachers. The police assured the public of continued efforts to ensure justice prevails in these heinous crimes.
