Another Top Nigerian Monarch killed by gunmen

Voice Air Media, News Update

The Chief Ojo Olayinka, traditional ruler of Elepe of Ohi-Ogidi in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi state, has been fatally shot by unidentified gunmen, as reported by the state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement on Wednesday. The state government strongly condemned the killing and has issued orders to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Expressing condemnation towards the heinous act, the state government emphasized the barbarity of undermining its efforts and progress in safeguarding the lives and property of the people of Kogi.

The State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has directed the security chiefs in the state and the state security adviser to ensure that those responsible for the deplorable act are apprehended and face the full extent of the law.

Although this may not bring back the deceased, it will bolster the trust of the citizens in the state’s security framework. The state cannot afford to regress into a state of insecurity,” stated the Governor.

The Governor urged the people of Ogidi and Ijumu Local Government Area to maintain composure and refrain from taking matters into their own hands, regardless of the provocation, assuring them that the state’s security apparatus is robust enough to protect its people and hold criminal elements accountable.

He also urged the citizens to remain vigilant and provide valuable intelligence to the security agencies and community leaders.

The government extended its sympathies and thoughts to the immediate family of the deceased, the Ogidi community, the people of Ijumu Local Government Area, and the traditional institution.

“May the soul of the departed rest in peace. The administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the security of lives and property and will make life unbearable for criminals in the state,” he added.

In a separate incident on January 6, 2024, suspected arsonists set ablaze the 75-year-old elder sister of the Attah Igala, Mathew Opaluwa, killing her in the process.

The woman, identified as Meimunat Sani, was set ablaze alongside her granddaughter, Hajarat, in the early hours of Thursday, in her Oketekwe residence in the Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State.

A family source disclosed that a group of individuals invaded the home of the deceased with petrol and set it on fire while the monarch’s sister, her daughter, and granddaughter were asleep.