Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti on Tuesday pledged that the killers of two traditional rulers in the state would soon be apprehended.

Mr Oyebanji spoke when he visited the families of the late Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Olusola and the late Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, to commiserate with them.

The governor, accompanied by some top government functionaries, politicians and heads of security agencies in the state, said the perpetrators of the heinous act would not go unpunished.

The two royal fathers were on Monday ambushed and killed by gunmen on their way from a meeting in Irele-Ekiti. They were killed in a vehicle driven by another royal father, the Alara of Ara Ikole-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, who managed to escape from the scene.

Mr Oyebanji, who described the killing of the traditional rulers as unfortunate, commiserated with the bereaved families, the people of the two towns and the traditional institution in the state.

He, however, commended the people of the affected towns over what he described as their peaceful disposition to the gruesome killing of the traditional rulers.

Describing security as the joint responsibility of the government and the citizens, the governor urged the people to continue assisting security operatives by giving timely information.

He promised to assist the bereaved families, particularly the Imojo community, to complete the palace, which is still under construction.

Speaking earlier, the Elejira of Imojo, Ayodele Dada, described the death of the traditional ruler as a painful one.

Mr Dada, who is the second-in-command to the Onimojo, called on the government to double its efforts in securing the lives and property of the state’s people.

Some indigenes of the two towns described the traditional rulers’ killing as unfortunate and a great loss to the two communities.

(NAN)