•Buhari orders security agencies to fish out, prosecute perpetrators
•Speaks with bereaved father
•Tinubu too, says it’s a personal loss to him
•We’ll find them, IGP vows; deploys crack detectives to scene of attack
•Obasanjo: Nigeria diminished with the act
•Jonathan, PDP others react
Nigerians were united on Saturday in denouncing Friday’s killing of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, daughter of elder statesman, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, by unknown gunmen.
Mrs. Olakunrin was shot at Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State when the hoodlums opened fire on her car.
President Muhammadu Buhari directed security agencies to swing into action and bring the brains behind the killing to justice in the shortest possible time.
Buhari personally spoke with Chief Fasoranti by phone on Saturday to commiserate with him on the death of Mrs. Olakunrin.
The president prayed that God might comfort and give him the fortitude to bear the grievous loss.
National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, also spoke with Chief Fasoranti on phone Saturday, expressing shock at the killing.
Tinubu said Mrs Olakunrin’s death was a personal loss to him in view of his relationship with the bereaved family.
He is expected to be in Akure today on a condolence visit to Chief Fasoranti.
A similar challenge to the security agencies came yesterday from Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.
He asked them to fish out the killers and make them face justice.
The governor who personally visited the bereaved elder statesman at his Akure residence condemned the killing and said the security agencies should do everything to apprehend the killers.
“This sad development once again, heightens the level of fear that has pervaded our nation even as it represents a despicable commentary in all ramifications,” he said.
“To say the least, it represents an unenviable turning point, the depth of everything that is evil.”
Police Inspector General Mohammed Adamu said the hunt for the killers is already on with the deployment of crack detectives to the state to hunt down the suspects.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State also paid a condolence visit to Pa Fasoranti as were the deputy governor of Ondo State, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, former Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae, former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, and Senator Tayo Alasoadura as well as clergies notably the Bishop of Akure Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican communion) the Rt. Rev. Simeon Borokini.
Condolence messages came from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Yoruba Unity Forum, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Ohanaeze Youths.
Sympathizers took turns to sign the condolence register and pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased and for her family.
Governor Akeredolu appealed to the people of the state to remain calm and allow the Police to unravel the perpetrators of this murder.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Undie Adie, said he had been directed to comb all the forests of Ondo State to bring the murderers to book.
Akeredolu said he would keep the media abreast of steps being taken to unravel the killers.
Hunt on for the killers, says IGP
Police Inspector General Mohammed Adamu said yesterday that operatives from different police units have been deployed to Ondo State to commence a manhunt for the killers with a view to tracking, arresting and bringing them to justice.
The units which are expected to work with the State Police Command in the manhunt include special forces and seasoned investigators from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU).
He promised that the perpetrators would not escape justice.
Adamu, in a statement through the Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, condemned the “heinous and barbaric crime” and ordered an overhaul of the security architecture on highways across the southern states.
The Commissioners of Police in the affected States were ordered by the IG to emplace adequate security arrangement in their areas of jurisdiction (AOR).
The IG said the Force Headquarters has perfected plans to replicate on major highways in the south, the special security arrangement powered by “Operation Puff Adder” on the Kaduna- Abuja expressway.
He called for calm and support from all Nigerians, especially residents of Ondo State, in aid of the current investigation.
Nigeria diminished with the killing, says Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo declared that Nigeria has been diminished by the killing of Mrs Funke Olakunri.
He described the incident as a worrisome development in the polity, especially, at a time when all well-meaning Nigerians are preaching tolerance and political accommodation.
Obasanjo, in a condolence letter to Pa Fasoranti, said: “I must say Nigeria as a whole is diminished by the manner of Funke’s death.
“We deplore this dastardly act and seize this opportunity to call on governments at all levels to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that our security agents vigorously pursue and find the perpetrators of such heinous crime and make them face the full weight of the law.
“We must, together, find solution to all acts of insecurity in the country, particularly acts of banditry, kidnapping, robbery and killing.
“As you mourn the tragic loss of our very dear Funke, please be assured of the sympathy and profound sorrow of many others like me who are saddened by the manner of her demise, especially as she still had a lot to contribute to the nation and her family to which she was highly devoted.
“Let me also implore you to be strong for the entire family. I pray that God Himself will comfort you and sustain the whole family in this hour of painful trial. And may the soul of the dear departed rest in perfect peace.
“Because I have to be in Morocco, I am sending a delegation of Otunba Oluwole Fasawe and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola with this letter and to personally deliver my condolence.”
Jonathan to Fasoranti: My heart goes out to you
Immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan took to Twitter to pour out his grief on the shooting.
He said: “My heart goes out to Chief Reuben Fasoranti and his entire family over the untimely death of his daughter, Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, at the hands of suspected herdsmen.
“No one deserves to hear such news, not the least being Pa Fasoranti, a man that has given so much to Nigeria and asked so little.
“I am encouraged by the message from the Governor of Ondo State and his assurances that those behind this heinous and callous crime will be brought to book.
“Baba, may God comfort you and your family and grant you the fortitude to bear the loss, even as we pray that the Almighty returns peace to Nigeria.
“My family and I offer you our deepest solidarity now and always. We also extend our arm in love to Afenifere.”
It’s heartrending, says PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it was heartrending that Nigeria has “become a killing field and large funeral palour with insurgents, bandits and assassins having a field day waylaying and killing innocent compatriots, especially those making very useful contributions to the development of our nation.”
The opposition party in a statement said it was “worried that security agencies are rather engaging in debates over the identity of the killers and hurriedly pointing to a case of abduction even before any extensive investigation has been carried out on the horrific and dastardly act.
“The party bewails that the killing of Funke Olakunrin marks yet another national loss occasioned by the failure of the Buhari administration to secure the nation beyond lip service, a development that has emboldened marauders in our country.
“The PDP posits that Funke Olakunrin must not die in vain. Our dear nation must not continue to lose her finest and brightest in the hands of bandits. Our party therefore charges the authorities to go beyond condolence messages from Abuja and take concrete steps to apprehend Funke Olakunrin’s killers, as well as ensure security of lives in our nation.
“The PDP, while condoling Pa Fasoranti, charges the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, to take immediate and decisive steps, beyond the lip service of the Buhari administration, to track down the killers without further delay and make them face the full wrath of the law, no matter who they are.”
Oyetola calls for probe
Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State described the killing of Mrs Olufunke Olakunri as a dastardly act that should be probed.
The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Adeniyi Adesina, condemned the killing and called on security agents not to leave any stone unturned in the probe to ensure that the killers are nabbed and brought to justice.
“This should not be another case of unresolved murder. All efforts should be made to get to the root of this,” Oyetola said.
He condoled with Pa Fasoranti and Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, over the death.
Makinde: It’s darkest hour of our contemporary history
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State said the killing was not only shocking but also saddening, despicable and darkest hour of our contemporary history as a nation.
He tasked the security agencies to urgently fish out the perpetrators of the evil incident said that the perpetrators must be made to face the full wrath of the law.
He also called on the Yoruba to take heart and be strong following Olakunrin’s killing, adding that the death further signified a dark spot in the history of the Yoruba’s renewed struggle to protect its land from invaders.
He commiserated with Pa Fasoranti and the family as well as Governor Akeredolu on the killing.
ARG demands ‘appropriate action’
The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) also condemned the killing.
Chairman of the group, Olawale Oshun, in a statement said: “ARG shares in this colossal loss and condole with the bereaved family, especially Pa Fasoranti and Mrs. Olakunrin’s nucleus family. This loss is a burden too heavy and a steep price to pay for steadfastly serving this nation and our people.
“Mrs. Olakunrin’s death at the hands of these savage herdsmen could not but have been part of a grand plan to break the soul of Yorubaland and set the roof on fire. But the fire this time will consume the perpetrators and their collaborators.
“ARG therefore challenge the Yoruba governors and the socio-political leadership to rise up to the occasion, as it would now seem that the central government and its clinging to central policing has failed woefully in providing Nigerians the needed security.
“Our governors must realize that they shall be held responsible, individually and collectively, should they fail to prioritize and support one another in securing their people. The time to act is now.
“We dare say that Mrs Olakunrin’s is the latest victim of Nigeria’s wobbling and ineffective unitary governance structure. The gory stories of kidnapping, maiming, raping and killing that emanate daily from Yoruba land should be stopped by whatever means possible including pursuing the dismantling of this unworkable unitary constitution and replacing it with a truly federal constitution.
“The time for our governors to stand up on our behalf is now, they can count on the support of our people in their bid to drive out these senseless criminals from our land. It is only by doing this that Mrs. Olakunrin and all those murdered by these beasts would not have died in vain.”
Killing is baseless, mindless, grossly unacceptable- Yoruba Unity Forum
The Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) said it received news of the incident with shock, sadness and trepidation.
The Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr Lanre Ogundipe, said the killing stemmed from alleged ineptitude of the security agencies.
It said it was alarmed by the claim that Mrs. Olakunrin’s killing was a failed armed robbery attack, saying: “we’re yet to see where armed robbers, whose primary motive is to dispossess victims of their belongings, will kidnap or riddle the same victim’s car with bullets. YUF finds this claim spineless and absolutely ill thought;
“YUF reiterates her call for the total restructuring of the country, as that in our well informed opinion, is the panacea to the myriads of problems confronting a disjointed and faulty union like Nigeria’s. Failure to adhere restructuring principles.
“Without immediate restructuring along the lines of the 2014 National Conference Resolutions, the continued existence of Nigeria as one country is very much open to doubt.”
It’s time for action by Southwest governors- Gani Adams
The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, asked the Southwest governors to begin the immediate implementation of the decisions they took on the security of the region at a recent meeting in Ibadan.
He also advised traditional rulers in the region to take bold steps to stamp out killings by herdsmen in their domains and devise means of identifying visitors or new settlers in every community.
Adams, in a statement by his Media Assistant, Kehinde Aderemi, said: “We only want the whole world to know what has been done and being done to our people. They should be aware of the actions that preceded our reaction when it eventually comes. We are not bereft of ideas of how to stop this criminality on our land.
“It is just so that we should not be blamed when the reaction comes. We are like the proverbial goat that is being chased. When it gets to the wall, it will certainly react. We are at that stage now.”
“Yoruba people are not paper tigers and dogs who can only bark without biting.”
He commiserated with Pa Fasoranti, and prayed that God might comfort him and his entire household.
“Papa, these are trying times but it is certain justice will come”, he said.
SDP condemns killing
The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP) Professor Tunde Adeniran called the killing repugnant and unacceptable to Nigerians.
He asked the Federal Government to intensify action to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice without delay and urged President Buhari and the security agencies to deploy more resources to the fight against banditry in the country.
His words: “This is one death too-many. What a sad day, what a great loss for the family and humanity.
“This is a tragic moment for the family. We pray that God will console the family she left behind and also grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”