The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a suspected lunatic who killed the Onise of Odo Oro, Oba Gbadebo Ogunsakin.
The suspect allegedly stabbed the monarch with a knife on Monday and fled the area.
The king was killed after chairing a meeting with his chiefs where matters of community development were reportedly discussed.
Police spokesman Caleb Ikechukwu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said on phone that the suspect is Omoniyi Ademola Stephen.
Ikechukwu said Ademola was arrested around 4.30 p.m on Monday near Ajao Market in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
He said: “The suspect has been arrested and he was brought in under investigation.
“He confessed to the act, and our investigation continues. The matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.”
The spokesman said the police would be professional and thorough in examining the circumstances that led to the killing of the traditional ruler.
The suspect was said to have come to the palace and sat on the throne, claiming to be king, before he was chased away.
A source revealed that Ademola allegedly attacked the monarch, who was said to be trekking to his private home few meters from the palace.
Oba Ogunsakin’s driver had taken the monarch’s official vehicle for routine servicing when disaster struck.
The source said: “Ademola, who is believed to be mentally challenged from his alleged drug abuse, was said to have recently adopted some funny stunts.
“One of these was to go about pasting inscriptions around the town with the claim that he was the king and wanted to take his throne.
“His attitude got out of control on August 20 when he stormed the palace ahead of a meeting of the king with the chiefs-in-council and sat on the king’s stool, claiming he was the right owner.
“One of the chiefs met Ademola constituting a nuisance informed the king.
“And when the other chiefs arrived for the meeting with the king, the suspected lunatic was reportedly chased out of the palace with a cane and the meeting lasted.
“The chiefs departed after the meeting, leaving the king behind. He must have preferred to exercise his body strolling, taking a walk through the short distance from the palace to his home, which is less than 500 metres interval.
“The late king usually walked distance, even if his official vehicle was within reach. But that day, his driver travelled out of town to service his official vehicle.
“It is unclear if the chiefs saw Ademola laying siege. But the king was reportedly killed at the junction of the palace, a stone’s throw to the palace and his home, by Ademola allegedly ambushed the king would definitely come through the only access road linking the Odo Oro township main road to the palace.
“It was reported that a lad carrying an umbrella behind the king had rushed home to inform the queen that someone was punching the king, not knowing it was a repeated stabbing by the assailant.
“Before rescuers could move closer to the scene, the assailant was said to have jumped into the nearby bush and escaped. He was trailed up to Ijesa Isu Road and said to have entered into the thick bush again.
“The king was soaked in blood and confirmed dead on arrival at the State Specialist Hospital in Ikole.”