The Atah of Ayede-Ekiti, Oba Afeleye Orisagbemi, narrowly escaped death in the hands of suspected kidnappers on Sunday.

Oba Orisagbemi is the fourth Ekiti State traditional ruler to suffer similar fate in the last one year.

The first ruler was kidnapped; the second escaped abduction after his attackers scaled the palace fence and beat him to a pulp, while the third one escaped before the assailants struck.

Oba Orisagbemi escaped death after he was attacked by unknown gunmen on Sunday.

The incident, according to eyewitnesses happened when the traditional ruler was returning from a meeting outside his domain.

According to one of the witnesses, the hoodlums attempted to kidnap Oba Orisagbemi, shot at him without effect, a development credited to the traditional ruler’s talisman.

Oba Orisagbemi is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital. Efforts to get him to speak on the failed incident were unsuccessful.

Police spokesman in Ekiti State, ASP Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident.

Abutu said efforts were in top gear to track down the perpetrators.

-NAN