Police Detain Suspected Murderer of FUTMinna Lecturer in Niger

A female housemaid named Joy Afekafe, aged 14, has been apprehended by the Niger State Police Command for her alleged involvement in the murder of Associate Professor Funmilola Adefolalu from the Federal University of Technology, FUT, Minna, Niger State.

The arrest took place in the Gbeganu area of Minna, the state capital, on Monday, following initial investigations by the police.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, stated in a press release on Tuesday that the suspect has confessed to collaborating with two male friends in the commission of the murder.

During interrogation, she admitted to serving as the deceased’s housemaid for approximately three weeks before being dismissed due to her misconduct in the household.

According to the statement, “After being laid off, she approached her classmates named Walex and Smart, and together they plotted an attack on the lecturer at her residence.”

The statement revealed that on October 28, 2023, at 1600hrs, they arrived at the residence with a motorcycle, and the suspect emerged at the gate while the lecturer opened it for her.

As per the statement, Walex and Smart then entered the premises, assaulted the deceased, struck her head with a rod, and stabbed her multiple times with knives brought by Walex and taken from the kitchen by Smart.

The suspect informed the police that they also took the deceased’s phone and laptop, as well as removing the battery from a vehicle parked in the compound, before fleeing the scene.

The police spokesperson stated that efforts are currently underway to apprehend the other suspects who are still on the run. Meanwhile, the arrested suspect will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution.

It should be recalled that last Sunday, Prof. Adefolalu, a lecturer at FUT Minna, was discovered murdered at her residence in the Gbaiko Area of Minna, the state capital.

Colleagues of the deceased, concerned about her absence at church, visited her residence and forcibly entered when there was no response. They tragically found her lifeless body in a pool of blood, accompanied by two bloodstained knives. The corpse has been deposited at the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna.