Police Launch Massive Manhunt For Killers Of Afenifere Leader’s Daughter
LAGOS JULY 14TH (NEWSRANGERS)-The Nigeria Police Force says it has started a “massive manhunt” for the killers of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, daughter of the leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Reuben Fasoranti.
Mrs. Funke Olakunrin was shot by armed men on Friday afternoon while travelling along the Benin-Ore Expressway in South-Western Nigeria.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr.Frank Mba, the action of the force is aimed at tracking, arresting and bringing the culprits to justice.
In a statement on Saturday, Mba gave assurance that the killers of Mrs Olakunrin would certainly be found and made to face the full weight of the law.
He added that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, condemned the killing which he described as “heinous and barbaric”.
As part of measures to prevent a future occurrence of such incidence, the IGP has ordered the total overhaul of security architecture on the highways straddling the Southern part of the country.
“In this vein, the Commissioners of Police in the affected states were ordered by the IGP to emplace adequate security arrangement in their areas of jurisdiction (AOR),” the police spokesman said.
He added, “He (IGP) equally assures the nation that the Force Headquarters has perfected plans to replicate the special security arrangement powered by ‘Operation Puff Adder’ currently ongoing on Kaduna-Abuja expressway in key highways in the Southern part of the country.”
A team of security operatives from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), and the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU), according to Mba, has been deployed in Ondo State.
He explained that the team would work with Police Command in the state to ensure that the killers of Mrs. Olakunrin were promptly arrested.
The IGP gave assurance that the Force would not rest on its oars until sanity was restored in every nook and cranny of the country.
He called for calm and support from all Nigerians, especially the residents of Ondo to support the ongoing investigation.
In a related development, Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Undie Adie while speaking on the inciden disclosed that hoodlums numbering about 16 shot Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, the daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
He said Mrs Olakunrin was attacked at Kajola village alongside other passengers travelling from Imo State to Lagos, but she was the only one shot to death.
Acording to him, “Recall that at about 2:15 p.m on Friday, between Nirowi and Nitel along Ore─Ijebu-Ode Expressway, about 16 unknown gunmen ambushed some vehicles along the road shooting sporadically at them.
“This led to the death of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin who was hit by the bullet from the criminals.
“The incident attracted the nearby Police patrol team from Ore Division who immediately engaged the hoodlums forcing them to escape into the bush and also prevented them from causing further damage of kidnapping or any harm to other commuters.
“The Police with the support of the local vigilante have since yesterday been combing the bushes to ensure that the perpetrators of the dastardly act are made to bear the full weight of the law.
“I am presently at the scene to coordinate and mobilise both Police and vigilante team to ensure that the culprits are apprehended and brought to justice.
“We are also ensuring that the overgrown grasses by either side of the road are cleared to allow proper visibility for motorists as the hoodlums usually hide under the cover of the overgrown roadside weeds to commit this type of havoc.
“We have since commenced investigation into the incident and our preliminary reports revealed that the incident was never a targeted attack at anyone as the attackers were bandits and criminals who were out to rob, kidnap or abduct for ransom.
“While we send our condolences to the people of Ondo State and most especially the family of the deceased, we want to reassure the good people of the state and other members of the public of our determination to rid the state of this type of criminal act and other violent crimes.”
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Posted by News Rangers
on Jul 14 2019. Filed under National.
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