A high chief was shot dead during traditional funeral rites in Ayeka, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, in what residents described as an accidental discharge.
The incident occurred on Monday, October 5, 2026, while the deceased’s colleagues were performing traditional rites for a departed member of their group.
An eyewitness said tension erupted at the ceremony when an unidentified person carrying a firearm suddenly discharged the weapon.
The bullet reportedly struck the high chief in the head, killing him instantly.
Some residents at the scene told Channels Television that the shooting appeared to have been accidental.
The spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the incident on Tuesday.
Jimoh said police had arrested one suspect in connection with the shooting, adding that a detailed investigation had commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
