Police have arrested 14-year-old housemaid over the murder of a FUTMinna lecturer.
Glamtush reports that the Niger State Police Command has arrested a 14-year-old, Joy Afekafez over the murder of Dr Funmilola Adefolalu, a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology, FUT, Minna.
Police investigation showed that the deceased’s househelp, Joy, carried out the attack with her classmates, Walex and Smart who are on the run.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this on Tuesday in a statement.
He added that effort was ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.
Some friends and church members of Adefolalu visited her residence in Gbaiko Area of Minna on October 10. However, on getting to the house, the visitors met her lying in a pool of blood with marks of injury on her body.
“Police operatives attached to Bosso Division visited the scene and two bloodstained knives suspected to have been used to stab her by unknown person(s) were recovered from the scene. The body was taken to the IBB Hospital, Minna where she was confirmed dead,” Abiodun said.
According to the police, an investigation led to the arrest of the deceased’s housemaid, Afekafe, on October 30, around 9pm at a residence within Gbeganu area of Minna.
The statement read, “During interrogation, the suspect confessed that she served as the deceased’s housemaid for about three weeks, and she was laid off due to her misdeed in the house.
“After she was laid off, she met her classmates called Walex and Smart, narrated her ordeal to them and conspired to attack the lecturer at her residence.
“Afekafe said they went to the lecturer’s residence on October 28, around 1600hrs, with a motorcycle and she surfaced at the gate, while the lecturer opened the gate for her.
“Walex and Smart later entered, beat and hit the lecturer’s head with a stool and stabbed her with a knife brought by Walex while Smart took another knife from the kitchen, and stabbed her severally.”
Abiodun stated, “She (Afekafe) said the deceased’s phone and laptop were taken away, while they also removed the battery of the vehicle parked in the compound and fled the scene.
“The suspect will be transferred to SCID for further investigation and diligent prosecution, while effort is ongoing to arrest the fleeing other suspects.”
Meanwhile, the Voice of Mercy Ministry, the church where the deceased was a Pastor, has expressed sadness and shock over the development.
In a statement signed by Pastor Bolaji Olanipekun, Head of Media and Communications, the church said, “This heinous act has left a profound impact on our congregation, and we are united in our resolve to seek justice for our dear pastor.”
The church called on the security agencies involved in the case to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice.
“We urge them to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, ensuring that all evidence is diligently examined and all leads are followed.
“The loss of Pastor Dr Mrs Fumilola Adefolalu has left an indelible void within our church. Her unwavering faith, compassion and dedication to serving others will always be remembered.”
