Some suspected assassins have killed the traditional ruler of Owo town, in the Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Patrick Fasinu.

It was gathered that Fasinu was returning from a meeting of traditional rulers in the Ilaro area on Wednesday.

He reportedly dropped off his driver along the way and was going home in his Camry car when he was ambushed by the assailants who murdered him.

The assailants reportedly dragged him out of his car, butchered him with an axe, took him back to his car, and then set on fire before fleeing the scene.

A source within the family, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers went away with the Oba’s phone.

He said, “He went for a meeting of traditional rulers in Ilaro. While returning, he greeted some of his family members at Owode. He was there till evening.

“He later left for Oke Odan around 10pm. He dropped off his driver along the way and continued his journey to his hometown, where he was the king.”

“He was about a mile away from his house when he was assassinated.”

“His family had looked for him throughout the night and when they didn’t see him, they thought he slept over in the house of one of his wives or somewhere else.”

He added that blood traces were seen in a bush near the scene, including a bloodstained axe, which the police took away.

Ogun state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirming the assassination said, “The monarch was gruesomely murdered. He was burnt to death in his car. We have started investigations already.”

“The driver is in our custody and we will download to the root of the case.”