Gunmen suspected to be ritualists have killed a teenage girl at the popular Ibadàn forest known as Igbo Agala in Ibadan South East local government area.

The victim as reliably informed was killed on Tuesday byyet to be apprehended suspected ritualists.

Her dismembered body remains were discovered by the people living in the neighbourhood.

The development has created tension in the area as the residents now live in fear.

Disturbed by the incident, the Olubadan of Ibadanlan, Oba Dr. Lekan Balogun has tasked the security agencies to up their game by ensuring adequate protection of lives and property in Ibadan land.

The monarch while condemning the gruesome murder of a yet-to-be-identified lady called on the security agencies in the state to fish out the killers for appropriate legal actions.

Olubadan expressed this concern while playing host to the members of the Ibadan South-East Local Government main Division of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) led by Commander Ekundayo Temitope at his Alarere residence on Thursday.

Oba Balogun had in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan described the development as very ugly, barbaric and animalistic just as he implored the security agents not only to fish out the culprits but to ensure that such a dastardly act does not reoccur again.

The monarch, who spoke through his Bobajiro, Chief Tajudeen Aremu said it was a thing of surprise to him that such a barbaric act could happen in Ibadan and no apprehension was made, stressing that the intelligence network of the security agencies would have to be more strengthened.

“It was a condemnable act by all standards and every right-thinking person should rise against it. I call on you, all the security agencies in the state to remain up and doing to ensure that we don’t have a repeat of such nonsense in our community. We are known for peaceful and communal living and any attempt to import such condemnable act should be resisted by all our might,” the monarch added.

Earlier in his brief remark, the Ibadan South-East Local Government NSCDC boss explained that he came to the palace to present himself as the new Divisional head of the organization in the local government and in recognition of the local governmentas the one directly in charge of Olubadan palace.

He said the role of traditional institutions in the security arrangements of any society cannot be overemphasized, noting that in order to succeed in the onerous task of securing the society, there must be a collaboration between the traditional rulers and the security agencies.

“As our father, I count on Your Majesty’s support and understanding at all times. I’m aware that no Divisional head of our organization had ever paid this kind of visit to the palace and with every sense of humility, the implication of that is my recognition of Your Majesty’s strategic and importance to my success. I thank you, Kabiyesi for this honour which I pledge not to take for granted”. Ekundayo added. (Nigerian Tribune)