Police operatives have arrested the killers of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, daughter of the leader of the pan Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasorantin.
Mrs Olakunrin was attacked and murdered by unknown persons between Kajola and Ore along Ondo-Ore road in Ondo State on 12th July, 2019.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said in a statement on Thursday, that after months of relentless efforts, the police team during a follow up on a case of armed robbery and kidnap for ransom in Ogun state, arrested a 25 year old male, Auwal Abubakar, an accessory, along Sagamu-Ore Expressway in Ondo State.
He added that the arrest of Abubakar, led to the arrest of three other members of the gang, Mohammed Shehu Usman and Lawal Mazaje in Benin, Edo State, and Adamu Adamu in Akure, Ondo State.
“Having established sufficient physical and forensic evidence linking the suspects to the killing of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, the investigators, determined to clear all doubts relating to their findings, on 8th April, 2020, conducted an identification parade at the Federal SARS Headquarters, Lagos which led to the positive and physical identification of three suspects, Adamu Adamu, Lawal Mazaje and Mohammed Shehu Usman by a survivor of the earlier crime,” the statement said.
It added that the survivor gave a clear description of the roles each of the identified suspects played in the killing.
“At this point, the suspects capitulated and voluntarily offered a no-holds-barred confession on how Mrs Funke Olakunrin was killed”.
The police statement also said that investigations revealed that the operation that led to the killing was carried out by eight fully armed kidnap/robbery suspects led by Tambaya (other name unknown) currently at large.
“While four of the suspects are in custody, effort is being intensified to arrest the four others still on the run,” the statement added.
It also said that investigations revealed that the 8 man gang with operational base and membership spread in the South West part of the country and Edo State are responsible for series of high profile armed robbery and kidnap operations in the region.
“They also attack, vandalize and steal components of critical national infrastructures such as electrical and telecommunications installations”.
It said the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who assured that the suspects would be prosecuted on completion of investigations, declared the principal suspect, Tambaya wanted for his involvement in the death of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, insisting that the force will not relent until every member of the gang still at large, is arrested and brought to book.
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