THE traditional ruler of Iro-Ekiti, in Gboyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Oba Felix Afolabi Adeniyi, has gone on self-exile, over what he said was “persistent threats from suspected armed gangs who I think are after my life.”
Oba Adeniyi, who addressed newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, raised the alarm and announced that he had been on the self-exile since August 20, 2012, when he realised that his life was no longer safe in his domain.
He called on the security agencies in the state to rescue him “from these desperate gunmen operating like hired assassins.”
He said he had to relocate to another town when he was receiving intimidating text messages from unknown people, who said they were monitoring his movement, adding that these people were also demanding for money.
He revealed that gunmen invaded his palace on July 3, 2012, adding that armed men carted away undisclosed amount of money, royal beads, handsets and other valuable assets during the invasion.
Oba Adeniyi recounted that he and the Oniro-in-Council immediately reported the case at the police station in Ode-Ekiti, headquarters of Gbonyin Local Government, but later withdrew the case.
He said shortly after traditional rites had been performed, one man, a native of the community, came to confess to him covertly that some people had paid him a sum N30,000 to exterminate the traditional ruler and, thereafter, asked for a sum of N30,000, so that he could refund the money to those who gave him the nefarious contract.
Oba Adeniyi said he summoned his council chiefs to listen to the confession, but was surprised when the suspect said he was sent by the “dead.”
Oba Adeniyi, who addressed newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, raised the alarm and announced that he had been on the self-exile since August 20, 2012, when he realised that his life was no longer safe in his domain.
He called on the security agencies in the state to rescue him “from these desperate gunmen operating like hired assassins.”
He said he had to relocate to another town when he was receiving intimidating text messages from unknown people, who said they were monitoring his movement, adding that these people were also demanding for money.
He revealed that gunmen invaded his palace on July 3, 2012, adding that armed men carted away undisclosed amount of money, royal beads, handsets and other valuable assets during the invasion.
Oba Adeniyi recounted that he and the Oniro-in-Council immediately reported the case at the police station in Ode-Ekiti, headquarters of Gbonyin Local Government, but later withdrew the case.
He said shortly after traditional rites had been performed, one man, a native of the community, came to confess to him covertly that some people had paid him a sum N30,000 to exterminate the traditional ruler and, thereafter, asked for a sum of N30,000, so that he could refund the money to those who gave him the nefarious contract.
Oba Adeniyi said he summoned his council chiefs to listen to the confession, but was surprised when the suspect said he was sent by the “dead.”
