Niger State Police Command made a significant breakthrough in the gruesome murder case of Federal University of Technology Minna lecturer, Funmilola Sherifat Adefolalu.
A 14-year-old home help, Joy Afekafe, has been apprehended as the prime suspect in this shocking crime.
The tragic incident unfolded in the Gbaiko area of Minna, the state capital, where the lifeless body of the Department of Biochemistry lecturer was discovered in her home, drenched in a pool of blood.
It was her church members who, concerned by her absence during the service, traced her residence, leading to the horrifying discovery.
Adding to the tragedy, it was revealed that Adefolalu’s husband, a professor in the same school, had already passed away, leaving her alone. In a twist of events, it was discovered that the deceased had previously dismissed a female housemaid who was living with her.
However, as per the police investigation, it was unveiled that the 14-year-old domestic maid, Joy Afekafe, alongside her classmates known as Walex and Smart, were responsible for the violent attack on the lecturer.
Shockingly, the two accomplices are currently on the run, intensifying the police’s efforts to bring them to justice.
Wasiu Abiodu, the spokesperson for the state police command, revealed in a statement that the deceased had evident injury marks on her body.
He went on to explain that Afekafe had confessed to serving as the deceased’s housemaid for approximately three weeks before being dismissed due to her misdeeds.
Afekafe recounted how she sought the help of her classmates, Walex and Smart, after her dismissal and conspired to carry out the violent attack on the lecturer at her residence.
The dreadful incident occurred on October 28, 2023, when the assailants arrived at the lecturer’s home on a motorcycle.
“Afekafe was the one who initially approached the gate, with the lecturer unsuspectingly opening it.
“Walex and Smart then entered the premises, mercilessly assaulting the lecturer by beating her and striking her head with a stool. They used knives, with one brought by Walex and another retrieved from the kitchen by Smart, to repeatedly stab the victim,” investigation reveals.
In a shocking turn of events, they not only took the lecturer’s phone and laptop but also removed the battery from a vehicle parked in the compound before fleeing the scene.
The arrest of Joy Afekafe marks a significant step in this horrific case, but the authorities are determined to track down and apprehend the other suspects who remain at large.
Joy Afekafe will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution as the community grapples with the shocking details of this brutal crime.
