By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
A key actor in the murder of two Ekiti traditional rulers has confessed to the police.
He spoke about his involvement with other herdsmen now at large.
Bogoa, a herdsman, and main suspect was paraded by the police in Ado-Ekiti by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Ekiti, Dare Ogundare.
On January 29, armed men killed the Onimojo of Imojo, Oba Olatunde Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin.
The Onimojo was an associate professor. The Obas were coming from Kogi State where they attended a meeting.
In Ekiti, armed men had also attacked a school bus belonging to Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, three teachers, and the bus driver. The driver was later killed while the pupils were released on Monday.
Speaking with reporters at the Ekiti State Police Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, Baboga mentioned that he carried out the killing with four others.
He said, “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.
“When we were in the bush, we saw the vehicle conveying the three traditional rulers from a distance, and we jumped on the road.
“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. They left the bush immediately. They have been kidnapping people for ransom. I joined them once to kidnap and they gave me N5,000 from the money they collected.
Speaking further he said “It was when I came to town to buy garri that I was arrested by security operatives.”
The AIG had said the police arrested him between Ayedun and Ayebode, all in Ekiti.
He said that the suspects confession is expected to lead to the arrest of others.
The AIG told journalists that some other suspects were have been arrested at Oke Osun, in Ikere Ekiti, Igbo Okah and Iju-Ikere boundary forest in connection with the murder of the monarchs.
Ogundare said no arrest was made during the rescue operation that led to the rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers
Other suspects the police said were arrested were Yaya Sumaila, Idrisu Abubakar, Hassan Abudullahi, Abudullahi Abudullahi, Haruna Abubakar, Usman Abudullahi, Haruna Sule including one Babusa Alhaji Lede who was arrested inside Ayedun/ Ayebode Ekiti forest in Ikole Area of the state.
