The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) announced on Monday, July 15, that some suspects have been arrested in relation to the murder of 58-year-old Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Reuben Fasoranti, leader of the Afenifere.
Mrs. Olakunrin was killed by armed men on Friday last week while travelling along the Benin-Ore highway while returning from Akure where she went to see her father.
Her murder has sparked outrage from individuals and groups across the county, especially from leaders in the south-west region.
Some of those who condemned the killing were former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, who decried the security situation in the country.
But the Presidency has warned against politicizing security and called on various leaders across the country to be mindful their language and its potential consequences.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Ondo state, Femi Joseph, on Monday disclosed that some suspects allegedly involved in the killing of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin have been arrested.
According to him, the suspects were arrested when a team of security operatives stormed the forests in the area near Ore in Ondo State.
Joseph noted that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, had drafted some detectives from the Force to assist other officers in the state.
“They are complementing our efforts and we have made a lot of arrest on this matter, but we are doing the screening of those arrested to know who among them are the culprits.
“By the time we finish the screening, we will let the world know the perpetrators,” he said while refusing to mention the number or identities of suspects arrested in relation to the case.
He said investigations were still ongoing while suspects would be paraded as soon as possible
Concerning the reason why the Olakunrin’s car in which she was killed was not kept in the custody of the police, Joseph argued:
“What is important to the command is to arrest the criminals behind this act.
“I don’t have much to say about this but the only thing I can say for now is that we have our mode of investigation. What we are concerned about is for us perpetrators arrested.”