By correspondent in Minna.
The prime suspect
,,,Suspect speaks on how the lecturer was killed.
The police in Niger state,north central Nigeria, has arrested a teenager, Joy Afekafe, as the prime suspect in the gruesome murder of a lecturer of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Dr. Funmilola Adefolalu.
Our correspondent in Minna reports that Late Adefolalu l, who was also a Pastor with Voice of Mercy Ministry, was discovered inside her residence at Gbaiko area of Minna at about 10a.m on Sunday in a pool of blood with her throat slit, and two knives seen stained with blood by her lifeless body. DSP Wasiu A. Abiodun, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), for the Police Command said that Afekafe was being interrogated by the police as prime suspect for the culpable homicide of the late lecturer.
He said:” Police operatives attached to Bosso Division visited the scene and two knives with blood stains, suspected to have been used to stab her by unknown person(s), were recovered from the scene and the body taken to IBB Hospital, Minna where she was confirmed dead.
“After series of interview from the neighbours and friends of the family, investigation led to the arrest of the deceased’s housemaid, one Joy Afekafe ‘f’ aged 14 years of the same Gbeganu area on the 30th of October, 2023 and she confessed to have served the deceased as house help for some months.
“During interrogations, the suspect confessed that she served as the deceased’s housemaid for about three weeks, and was laid off due to her misdeed which the deceased could no longer condone.
According to PPRO,after she was laid off, Joy met two of her classmates, Walex and Smart, and narrated her ordeal to them and the trio conspired and attacked the lecturer at her residence on the ill-fated Sunday morning leading to her death.
The police image maker,quoted Afekafa as narrating that she and other suspects ,now at large, went to her former abode on 28/10/2023 at about 6p.m with a motorcycle and the late lecturer surfaced at the gate.
The suspect, he added that while the deceased opened the gate for her to enter, Walex and Smart later joined in, descended on her and hit her head with a stood and stabbed her severally with a knife brought by Walex while Smart took another knife from the kitchen to execute their evil act.
“They later made away with the deceased phones, laptop and also removed the battery of her car that was parked inside the compound and fled the scene.
“The suspect will be transferred to State CID for further investigation and diligent prosecution, while efforts were ongoing to arrest her other fleeing partners in crime, Walex and Smart,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Voice of Mercy Ministry, Minna is demanding for justice over the murder of late Funmilola, one of their pastors.
Pastor Bolaji Olanipekun,
Head of Media and Communications unit of the church, in a statement, said the church had been thrown into mourning for late Dr. Mrs. Funmilola he said was murdered in cold blood.
While commending efforts so far made by the law enforcement agencies in the investigations, the church expressed gratitude for the police diligent work in apprehending one of the principal suspects in the case.
“We appreciate the security agencies for efforts to arrest one of the principal suspects. It is our hope that this arrest will lead to the arrest of other collaborators involved in the wicked act, with a view to uncovering the truth about what transpired and bring all those responsible to face the full wrath of the law.
“The loss of Pastor, Dr. Mrs. Fumilola Adefolalu has left an indelible void within our church as her unwavering faith, compassion and dedication to serving others will always be remembered,” the pastor said.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
