Fulani Bandits Invade Ekiti … Former LG Boss, Others Narrowly Escape Death, Kidnap

Ololade Adeyanju/

With barely three days to the general elections, some travelers in Ekiti State narrowly escaped death when gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits ambushed them around Aiyegbaju-Ekiti on Wednesday.

The lucky victims included a former Chairman of Oye local government area, Mr. Tope Longe and five others.

One of the victims however sustained gunshot wounds, while the three vehicles they were traveling in separately were badly damaged and riddled with bullet holes.

NewsmakersNG learnt that the gunmen, who wore full military camouflage, had barricaded a section of the Oye- Ifaki road around 5.30pm and opened fire on their victims in order to force them to stop.

Longe who narrated his experience to NewsmakersNG said he was coming from Oye-Ekiti to Ado-Ekiti when he ran into the ambush.

Longe said immediately he realised the car in his front with three occupants was being fired at by men dressed in military uniform, he and others behind him stopped and put their vehicles in reverse.

Another set of gunmen however appeared from behind and started firing at them, at the same time warning them to stop.

He said while others managed to escape, he and the occupants of the car behind him were forced to abandon their cars and escape into the bush, after the gunmen succeeded in hitting their tyres.

Longe said he managed to find his way through the jungle to a hotel he knew was located close to Oye and jumped over their fence to gain access before he finally slumped after managing to explain his predicament.

He was later taken to the Oye Police Division where he met some of the other victims that managed to escape including the two men behind him who were also forced to abandon their vehicle.

He said it was at the police station he learnt that the car in his front also managed to escape the ambush despite the fact that one of the occupants and two of the vehicle’s tyres were struck by bullets.

Longe claimed he saw the faces of the gunmen clearly and was absolutely sure they were Fulanis.

He said he had been reading stories of such attacks and abductions in different parts of the Southwest but had never imagined himself being a victim.

Longe lamented the state of security in most parts of the Southwest while expressing the conviction that the region is under the siege of Fulani bandits and herdsmen.

“I thank God for sparing my life. Our attakers are Fulanis. I am very sure about that because I saw their faces clearly. They are pure criminals. Their plan was to abduct us for ransom or kill us if they fail.

“After we escaped, they ransacked our vehicles and carted away all valuables including phones, laptops and money,” Longe added.

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