A 14-year-old domestic help named Joy Afekafe has confessed to the brutal murder of Dr. Funmilola Sherifat Adefolalu, a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria. The gruesome incident took place at the lecturer’s residence in the Gbaiko area of Minna on October 28, 2023.
Dr. Adefolalu’s lifeless body was discovered by her church members after she failed to attend a Sunday service. “It was learned that the deceased lecturer’s body was discovered when her church members traced her home after she was not seen during service,” reported Sahara Reporters, a Nigeria-based news platform. The revelation sent shockwaves through the community as they came to terms with the loss of the academic.
According to reports by the Daily Trust, it was learned that the deceased lecturer, who had already suffered the loss of her husband, also a professor at the same educational institution, had recently dismissed another female domestic help who had been residing in her home.
“The late lecturer reportedly sacked a female home help who was staying with her and was found dead shortly after,” Sahara Reporters added. Tragically, this previous domestic help was found dead shortly after her dismissal.
The subsequent police investigation unveiled a harrowing tale of violence and criminality. Joy Afekafe, in her confession, revealed that she had worked as the deceased lecturer’s housemaid for approximately three weeks before being laid off due to misconduct. Afekafe, along with two of her classmates identified as Walex and Smart, launched a violent attack on the lecturer in her own home. As of now, Walex and Smart remain on the run.
Wasiu Abiodu, the spokesperson for the state police, shared details of the horrific crime.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed that she served as the deceased’s housemaid for about three weeks, and she was laid off due to her misdeed in the house,” he said. Afekafe recounted that on October 28, 2023, around 4:00 PM, she arrived at the lecturer’s residence on a motorcycle. “Afekafe said they went to the lecturer’s residence on October 28, 2023, around 1600hrs, with a motorcycle and she surfaced at the gate, while the lecturer opened the gate for her,” the statement narrated.
Afekafe’s classmates, Walex and Smart, then entered the premises, violently assaulted the lecturer, striking her with a stool, and stabbing her multiple times with knives. “Walex and Smart later entered, beat and hit the lecturer’s head with a stool, and stabbed her with a knife brought by Walex while Smart took another knife from the kitchen, and stabbed her severally,” Abiodu stated. They also made off with the lecturer’s phone and laptop and tampered with the battery of a vehicle parked in her compound before fleeing the scene.
The spokesperson for the state police assured the public that Afekafe would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and a thorough legal process. “The suspect will be transferred to SCID for further investigation and diligent prosecution,” he stated. He also confirmed that efforts were underway to apprehend the two other suspects who are currently evading capture.
This tragic incident has left the community in shock and mourning the loss of Dr. Funmilola Sherifat Adefolalu, a dedicated educator and academic. It also serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding domestic help and conducting thorough background checks to prevent such heinous acts from occurring in the future.
