The Onu Itama, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Chief Job Shagari Ebijego has been assassinated by unknown gunmen.
He was reportedly killed Monday evening near his palace in the Itama community, Dekina Local Government area of the state.
Family sources hinted to Newsmen that the hired assassins were trailing the Monarch while he was taking a stroll within his palace around 9.00 pm when sporadic shooting started.
The source pointed out that the subjects of the late traditional ruler and his personal guards could not come out to ascertain what was happening immediately until the shooting seized.
After the killing of the Monarch, the source said the assassins fled the scene with their motorcycle.
It was gathered that the lifeless body of the traditional ruler was found on the road close to his palace in Itama community.
Family source hinted to Newsmen that even though they could not ascertain the real reason why the Monarch was assassinated, the late Onu Itama has been on a series of chieftaincy tussles and land dispute matters with some groups of people in the community since his assumption of office.
The death of the Monarch has thrown the community into crisis as suspected arsonists have taken over Itama community.
Aggrieved by the tragic incident, youths in the community woke up on Tuesday morning and started burning houses and destroying the property of those suspected to be behind the brutal murder of the community chief.
It was gathered that Police personnel were immediately drafted from the Egume Divisional Police Office alongside some army personnel on ground to the community to keep peace.
Sources in the community told our correspondent that no fewer than 12 irate youths had been arrested by the combined forces while many fled the community.
It was also gathered that at the time of filing this report, the community had been deserted as many residents of Itama community took to their heels over fear of arrest or being hurt by the angry youths on a rampage.
It was further gathered that some neighbouring communities like Elubi, Acharu and Egume suddenly became refugee camps.
It was reliably gathered that another group of irate youths stormed the Itama community on Tuesday night, looted large quantities of red oil, food items and property worth thousands of naira and set houses ablaze.
The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Egume, identified as Pere, has deployed personnel to the community to restore normalcy.
All efforts to speak with the Kogi State Police Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) SP. Williams Ovye Aya proved abortive as he did not pick his calls or respond to text messages sent to his phone lines.
Salient Times gathered that Late Chief Job Shagari Ebijego was until his death a retired Police officer at Kaduna Police Command in Kaduna State before ascending the throne of his forefathers.
