A magistrate court sitting in Ilọrin, the Kwara State capital, on Wednesday remanded 13 suspected killers of the Olukoro of Koro in Ekiti Local Government Area, Gen. Segun Aremu (rtd).
The suspects were arraigned over alleged criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, kidnapping and giving false information.
They are Godwin Jacob, Olowofela Oyebanji, Adefalolu Ayodele, Tewasie Francis, Babatunde Samuel, Godwin Joseph, Issa Number, Miracle Solomon, Abraham Kehinde, Muhammed Bello, Muhammed Muhammed, Ahmadu Umaru and Muhammed Dankai of different addresses in Ekiti state.
According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), one Aremu Simon Adeyemi reported the case at Eruku Police Division.
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Adeyemi, further narrated how “the suspects pointed a gun at him, ordering him to follow them when he challenged them after noticing their movement around his grandson.
“He said his grandson escaped through the backdoor while the suspects proceeded to kill the monarch, kidnapped his wife and one Mercy. “But he was later released while the deceased wife and Mercy were held hostage”, the charge sheet added.
The prosecutor, Abdullah Sanni, informed the court of the motion exparte attached to the police report, urging the court to order their remand.
Magistrate Monisola Kamson in her ruling ordered the remand of the suspects at the federal correctional centre and adjourned the matter to March 5t, 2024.
Daily Trust reports that the monarch was killed on Thursday night, February 2, 2024, when the bandits invaded his palace.
His wife, Olori Iyabo Aremu and her adopted daughter who were kidnapped during the invasion were later rescued by security operatives.
The incident attracted widespread condemnation from governors and other dignitaries coming fews day after the abduction and killing of two traditional rulers in Ekiti state.