The Ondo State Police Command has explained the circumstance surrounding the killing of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, a daughter of the Afenifere chief, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
Olakunrin was shot on Friday along the Ore-Shagamu Expressway at Kajola Village in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state during an armed robbery.
According to the Spokesman for the police in the state, Mr. Femi Joseph, who described the incident as robbery, three vehicles belonging to “Young Shall Grow Motors Limited, a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep with Registration Number LAGOS AAA 147 FM and a Toyota Camry “ were involved.
Joseph noted that the deceased was in a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep when she was shot while one traveller identified as Gerald Igbuoyikha was kidnapped by the gunmen.
He explained, “Three vehicles were ambushed by gunmen at Kajola on the Benin-Ore Expressway around 2pm.
“One woman named Funmi Olakunrin was shot but died before our men could take her to the hospital. The woman (deceased) was travelling in a Toyota Jeep.
“One man in another Toyota Camry Car was abducted by the gunmen. Our men have rescued seven men travelling in the commercial bus belonging to Young Shall Grow Motors Limited.
“We have begun search for the man that was abducted and to get the hoodlums.”
Meanwhile some eyewitnesses were said to have described the attackers as Fulani herdsmen.
Amplifying this part of the story is the Spokesperson of the Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, who said the 58-year-old woman was going to Ore Junction from Akure when she was shot by the gunmen.
He said information from some people who witnessed the incident said some Fulani herdsmen were behind it.
Some stakeholders have, however, described the comment as being hasty and part of a dangerous trend of labelling certain people as being behind crimes.
Publisher of ‘Uhuru Times’, Wale Adedayo, is among such people, who berated Odumakin for his position.
Comments greeting Adedayo’s post on the matter – on Facebook – are, however, mixed, with some users supporting him while others said Odumakin was referring to eyewitness accounts.
Oduain had said, “We have confirmed the death of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, (daughter of our leader, Chief Fasoranti).
“Eyewitness accounts say she died of gunshots from Fulani herdsmen who shot her at Ore junction in Ondo State earlier today.
“She was coming from Akure when the armed Fulani herdsmen came from the bush to attack her and other vehicles.
“Her domestic staff in the car with her also sustained gunshots.
“This is one death too many and a clear we-can-take-it-no-more death.”
