The Ondo State Police Command and a brother of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, who was killed on Friday, have disagreed over possible involvement of herdsmen in the crime.
Olakunrin, a daughter of elder statesman and Afenifere chief, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, was killed by some men who ambushed her car in the state.
In line with what some people had noted that the killers were ‘Fulani herdsmen’, Kehinde said the manner in which she was attacked tallied with the modus operandi of criminal herdsmen.
In an interview on Channels Television on Saturday, Kehinde said the way they sprayed the car with bullets, even if they were out to rob, tallied with the suspected with the bandits’ trademark.
Speaking on the matter, however, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Undie Adie, said the killers could not be called herdsmen because they paraded no cows based on the accounts given.
He said it was not a situation of any set of herdsmen blocking the road with their cows, noting that the criminals emanated from the bush.
Meanwhile, Kehinde has given details of how Olakunrin was killed:
“I just came back to Akure with my sister’s body tonight from Ore town. She was on her way to Lagos after she left baba (Pa Rebeun Fasoranti) house Friday morning. Her vehicle was ambushed around Ore town. The gunmen started shooting at them at the Ore expressway and the driver had to quickly turn back but unknown to him there are some of them in the bush along the other side of the road.
“They shot at the tyres of the SUV she was travelling in along with other persons. There were five people in the car, a driver, herself, a cook and two of her nephews. Sadly, she was hit by a bullet and was rushed to a hospital but she lost too much blood and she died minutes after.
“By the time the police would respond, about 30 minutes later, the gunmen had gone back into the bush. They ran after hearing the sound of the patrol van. Nobody was kidnapped inside her own vehicle. Although, those who were wounded were rushed to a hospital and have been checked by doctors and they are fine.”
