Osinbajo, Tinubu, Akande Visits Pa Fasoranti, Describes His Daughter’s Killing As Massive Tragedy, Premature One 

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure 

Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has commiserated with the Leader of the Pan-Yoruba Socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, over the murder of his daughter, Mrs Funke Olakunrin along Benin-Sagamu on Friday last week by suspected Fulani herdsmen. 

The Vice President who arrived the residence of Pa. Fasoranti at Akure around 9:10am was accompanied by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and Special Adviser to the president on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, described the killing of the 58-year-old daughter of the Afenifere Leader as a massive tragedy. 

Speaking to journalists Prof. Osinbajo reiterated the importance of community policing system to combat crimes in the country and also explained the importance of intelligence gathering for effective policing.

His words, “As you know, I’m here to commiserate with the families of Olakunrin and Pa Rebeun Fasoranti.

“The President has very recently met not only the service chiefs but also the IGP and he has laid out a new policy of the community policing.

“One of the most important things is this sort of crimes, because they are largely economic crimes, people are trying to make money by kidnapping.

“Another important thing is the intelligence gathering that is why we have the community policing system where policemen would be trained in their own local government and they would remain there”.

According to Osinbajo, the government would also be engaging the military to mount the flash points on the roads in order to boast its community policing system.

He explained further that the Inspector General Police (IGP) had already committed to ensuring that there was full coverage of the police, and even helicopters.

Osinbajo said further, “As close as we get to the community policing structure that we expect to have while we are engaging the Army so that there will be a bit of more military presence especially along the roads.

“This is to fasten the search for these killers and also to ensure that there is adequate presence to deter this kind of terrible situation from reoccurring.

“We are looking at the whole security architecture and trying to ensure that we are able to scale up and ensure that we are able to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians.

“Security in a big country like Nigeria as you can imagine the challenge is dynamic and the we also have to be consistently dynamic in ensure that we are able to beat the challenges as they appear. 

“I think that we can be very hopeful that we would see peace and calm as some of the steps we are taking come fruition. 

“You know also we meet with the Governors in South West and in the different zones and everybody is coming to ensure that security is adequate and every feels safe and secure”.

Also commiserating with Pa. Fasoranti, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu described Mrs Olakunrin’s death as premature one. 

Tinubu said, “I am a nationalist and the security concern and challenge right now must be face squarely throughout Nigeria. The incident that affected one member of our family Mrs Olakunrin is seriously sad, and unacceptable but nobody can return her alive, she has answered the call of her creator. 

“We must not use this incident to divide ourselves but we must use it as a cure to the security problem  Additional police, additional patrol, and additional security reinforcement along Ore road and various flash points across the country is necessary and I have discussed this among the various authorities. The governor is eminently aware and being proactive about this. 

“The security challenges are numerous across this country and to fight it we are going through that, more police are being recruited and it takes time to train and deploy them to various areas, nobody prepares more than necessary for this. 

“But if you look at Zamfara, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and all areas, then we need to fight poverty, unemployment and the causes that might lead people to crying.  

“Equally we must create opportunity to convert this tragedy to prosperity. Funke is very close to me and she died a premature death. Only four or five days ago, we chatted and I know what she discussed with me and about Baba’s health conditions. We just pray that this will not happen again.

“People are worried that the attackers are herdsmen, are you not concerned about this. 

“I am extremely concerned about security, I don’t want a stigma, I can go through history of kidnapping in Nigeria and we know how and where it all started, there are a lot of copycats. 

“How many years ago, have we face the insecurity in the country? There are cases of kidnapping, is Evans too who was arrested and made disclosures was also a herdsman? I don’t want to be political, but I will ask where are the cows”?.