Police Arrests Killers Of Funke Olakurin, Daughter Of Reuben Fasoranti, As Gang Leader Is Declared Wanted

Oru Leonard

POLICE operatives have arrested the killers of Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Reuben Fasorantin, the leader of PAN-Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere.

According to a press release by Frank Mba, Nigerian Police Force Public Relations Officer, on Thursday, April 16, the suspects are Lawal Mazaje, 40, from Felele area of Kogi State, Adamu Adamu, 50, from Jada area of Adamawa State; Mohammed Shehu Usman, 26, from Illela area of Sokoto State; Auwal Abubakar, 25, from Shinkafi area of Zamfara State

Recall that on July 14, 2019, following the attack and murder of Funke Olakunrin by unknown persons between Kajola and Ore along Ondo-Ore road in Ondo State on July 12, 2019, Mohammed Adamu, inspector general of Police, deployed Fimihan Adeoye, Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS, to coordinate the team of police special forces and seasoned investigators from the Force Criminal Investigations Department, FCID, Federal SARS, Intelligence Response Team, IRT, and the Technical Intelligence Unit, TIU, from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, to carry out massive manhunt for the killers with the aim of arresting and bringing them to justice.

Frank said after months of relentless efforts to apprehend the killers, the police Team, on March 4, during a follow-up action on a case of a high-profile armed robbery and kidnap for ransom that occurred in Ogun State, arrested one Auwal Abubakar, 25, an accessory after the fact of the crime, along Sagamu-Ore expressway in Ondo State. The arrest of Abubakar led to the arrest of two other members of the gang, Mohammed Shehu Usman and Lawal Mazaje in Benin, Edo State, from whom cache of ammunition was recovered and one other Adamu Adamu in Akure, Ondo State.

“Having established sufficient physical and forensic evidence linking the suspects to the killing of Olakunrin, the investigators, determined to clear all doubts relating to their findings, on April 8, conducted an identification larade at the Federal SARS Headquarters, Lagos, which led to the positive and physical identification of three suspects, Adamu Adamu, Lawal Mazaje and Mohammed Shehu Usman by a survivor of the earlier crime. The survivor gave a clear description of the roles each of the identified suspects played in the killing. At this point, the suspects capitulated and voluntarily offered a no-holds-barred confession on how Funke Olakunrin was killed.

“Investigations so far reveal that the operation that led to the killing was carried out by eight fully armed kidnap/robbery suspects led by one Tambaya (other name unknown) who is currently at large. While four of the suspects (mentioned above) are in custody, effort is being intensified to arrest the four others still on the run. The eight-man gang has their operational base and membership spread in the south-western part of the country and Edo State”, he explained.

Frank Mba noted that investigations have also revealed that they are responsible for series of high-profile armed robbery and kidnap operations in the region. They also attack, vandalize and steal components of critical national infrastructures such as electrical and telecommunications installations.

Consequently, the Inspector General of Police has declared the principal suspect, Tambaya (other names unknown) wanted for his involvement in the death of Funke Olakunrin.

Tambaya, a Nigerian, speaks Hausa, Fulfulde and Pidgin English languages. He is fair in complexion and in his late 20s – between the age of 27 and 30. His last known address is Isanlu, Kogi State. He has visible scar from stitches on his forehead down to his nose and mouth.

The IGP appreciated Nigerians for the patience and support to the police throughout the period of the investigations into the unfortunate incident and assured that the suspects will be prosecuted on completion of investigations, while making an unrelenting effort to arrest every member of the gang to face justice.