The Niger State Police have taken into custody a teenager named Joy Afekafe, believed to be the main suspect in the gruesome murder of Dr. Funmilola Adefolalu, a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology (FUT) in Minna.
Dr. Funmilola, who was also a pastor at the Voice of Mercy Ministry, was found lifeless in her residence in the Gbaiko area of Minna around 10 a.m. on a Sunday. She was discovered in a pool of blood with her throat slit, and two blood-stained knives were found near her body.
According to a statement by DSP Wasiu A. Abiodun, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, Joy is currently being interrogated by the police as the primary suspect in the murder case.
Police officers from the Bosso Division visited the crime scene and recovered two knives with bloodstains that are believed to have been used in the attack. The deceased’s body was then taken to IBB Hospital in Minna, where she was pronounced dead.
After conducting interviews with neighbors and friends of the family, the investigation led to the arrest of the deceased’s housemaid, a 14-year-old named Joy Afekafe, from the same Gbeganu area. Joy confessed to having worked as the deceased’s house help for around three weeks before being terminated due to her misconduct.
During interrogations, the suspect admitted to serving the lecturer as a housemaid but was dismissed because of her behavior. Subsequently, Joy met two of her classmates, Walex and Smart, and shared her grievances with them. The trio conspired and carried out the attack on the lecturer at her residence on the ill-fated Sunday morning, leading to her tragic death.
According to the statement, Joy described how they visited the victim’s house on October 28, 2023, at approximately 6 p.m., arriving on a motorcycle. When the deceased appeared at the gate, Joy opened it to allow her in, after which Walex and Smart joined the attack. They struck her on the head with a stool and repeatedly stabbed her with knives, leading to her demise.
