… As Gov Akeredolu threatens to sanction traditional rulers, over insecurity***

Some men, suspected to be armed robbers, on Thursday evening attacked a bullion van at Elemosho Village along the Akure-Ondo Expressway in Ondo East Local Government Area of Ondo State, making away with an undisclosed sum of money.

According to an eyewitness, the robbers waylaid and attacked the bullion van belonging to one the commercial banks, as it headed towards Akure at about 5pm.

The eyewitness said, in the operation which lasted for about 20 minutes, the robbers shot three people and disappeared into the bush.

According to the eyewitness, villagers abandoned their houses and ran into the bush for safety on hearing the sporadic gunshots..

“The robbers came to the scene in a Lexus car and waylaid the convoy, riddled two out of the three vehicles in the convoy with bullets.

“They shot three people before they ran away into the bush. One of the victims was alive while it was not sure whether the other two survived.”

“Men of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun, were invited to the scene and took one victim to the hospital,” the eyewitness added.

In a reaction, the Commander of the Amotekun team, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, who confirmed the incident, said his men took one of the injured person to the hospital. He also said there was no life lost in the attack.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tee-Leo Ikoro, said the robbers had run away before the security men got to the scene.

Ikoro said that the command has commenced investigation into the incident, indicating that detectives are on the trail of the bandits.

In the related development,  Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo has threatened to sanction any traditional ruler in the state who are unable to contain the activities of cultists in their domain.

Akeredolu, gave the warning in a statewide broadcast in Akure on Thursday night.

The governor said warned that any traditional ruler that was unable to contain the activities of cultists in his domain would be sanctioned by the government according to the law.

The governor added that the state government would not hesitate to impose 24-hour curfew on any community where there were crises and any culpable traditional ruler would be sanctioned.

Also read: Insecurity: Ekiti Oba advocates use of traditional powers

”Every individual in possession of illegal firearms are advised to submit them to security agencies as government has mandated the security agencies to prosecute any person found with such weapons.

“Parents are advised to control their wards on the use of drugs and other enablers as security agencies have been mandated to be on guard with a view to apprehending users of such drugs,” he said.

The newsmen report that following the disturbing violence in Ikare-Akoko, Akoko North East Local Government Area, the Ondo State Government imposed a 24-hour curfew on the town.

The curfew took effect from 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

The government warned that security agencies have been deployed and mandated to enforce the curfew.

Accordingly, anyone who violates or contravenes this order shall face the full wrath of the Law.

The government warned that dire consequences await such defaulters.

In the meantime, Akeredolu has ordered the immediate suspension of all activities relating to the OLOKOJA chieftaincy title.

In this regard, no one is permitted to parade himself as OLOKOJA, or engage in promotional activities relating to the title in question.