Varsity lecturer slaughtered in Niger

A lecturer with the Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State, Dr Adefolalu Funmilola Sherifat, has been reportedly found slaughtered in her residence in the Gbaiko area of Minna.

Daily Trust gathered that the deceased was an associate professor waiting for promotion to the rank of professor in the coming months.

The incident was reportedly discovered on Sunday morning when her church members traced her home after she was not seen in church.

Residents said after forcing the door to her house open, she was found in the pool of her blood with the throat slit and knives found beside her.

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Niger State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust.

According to him, “0n 29/10/2023 at about 1000hrs, some friends of one Dr. Mrs. Funmilola Adefolalu, a lecturer at FUT Minna visited her residence in Gbaiko Area of Minna due to inability to get her phone.

“Unfortunately, on getting to the house, the visitors met her lying in a pool of blood with marks of injury on her body.”

Abiodun said “Two knives with blood stains suspected to have been used to stab her by unknown person(s) were recovered from the scene.”

The police spokesperson said the body was taken to IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna where she was confirmed dead.

The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), FUT Minna chapter, Dr Bolarin Gbolahan, who also confirmed the incident, said, “It is strange that academics are now becoming endangered species. Our members are being kidnapped almost every week in Keffi now. We cannot sleep in peace again in our homes in Minna. The level of insecurity is becoming worrisome and something must be done before we all become victims of systemic failure.

“She was a gentle soul, very easy going woman. I never received any report of her quarreling with anyone. She was a dedicated academic that would be missed, especially in her department.”