•Assailants waited and left after policemen arrived, survivor narrates •Funke came to me in the morning to bid me farewell — Fasoranti
More facts, on Saturday, emerged on the killing of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, 58-year-old daughter of elder statesman and Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti at Ore junction, Ondo State, on Friday, by suspected herdsmen.
One of the survivors of the incident told Sunday Tribune that those who killed Mrs Olakunrin, although were armed to the teeth, were not robbers, as their intention was to kill and not to rob.
His account of the incident contradicted the earlier position of the Federal Government which linked the incident to armed robbery before later labeling the perpetrators as armed gang.
The driver narrated that the attackers, who emerged from the bush along the Sagamu-Benin highway, numbered between 15 and 20.
He said there were phones, money, jewellery and other valuables in the car which, according to him, the assailants had all the time to cart away if the intention was to rob, but did not go with any of the valuables.
Another survivor and driver of the deceased, Tayo Ogundare, said the attackers, who were masked, shot sporadically at their vehicle, aiming to stop them and other vehicles from escaping from the scene.
He said he had to maneuver the vehicle and reverse in a bid to escape from the attack which occupied just after the Ore Toll Gate, saying the gunmen kept shooting at their car till he and others managed to escape into the bush.
He, however, said the deceased was unlucky as she was hit by the bullets and died at a hospital due to gunshot injuries.
He explained that apart from him and the deceased, other domestic staff of Olakunrin, including the housemaid, Vivian Justice, and a member of the family of the deceased, Boluwaji Iwajomo, were also in the vehicle.
She came to bid me farewell at 9am; by evening, she was no more —Pa Fasoranti
Bereaved father of the deceased, Pa Fasoranti, recounted his last moments with his slain daughter to newsmen in Akure, on Saturday.
The 94-year-old father said she saw his daughter last on Friday morning when she came to bid him farewell.
Fasoranti said “she came to me around 9:00 am to bid me farewell. I only heard in the evening she is no more.
“The President [Muhammadu Buhari] called me to commiserate with me, but I told him to halt these killings in our land.”
Buhari, Tinubu phone Fasoranti
President Muhammadu Buhari has phoned Pa Fasoranti to condole with the grieving patriarch.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said “The president condoled with the grieving nonagenarian, wishing him the comfort of God, and fortitude to bear the loss.
“He also assured that security agencies would spare no effort to apprehend the culprits, and bring them to justice.
“Pa Fasoranti thanked the president for identifying with him and his family at their time of travail, praying that God will restore peace and amity to the country,” the statement said.
Earlier on Saturday morning, national leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, had called Pa Fasoranti by phone to also commiserate with him.
Tinubu expressed personal loss over the tragedy and prayed to God to comfort Pa Fasoranti and the entire family.
The APC leader said he was sure the Federal Government would do all in its power to fish out the killers and bring them to justice.
The tragedy has continued to draw more condemnation from eminent Nigerians and ethnic groups who warned that the incessant killings could set the country on fire.
