President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, on the killing of his daughter, Mrs Funke Olakunrin.
The deceased was reportedly shot on Friday on the Kajola-Ore road in Ondo State by those the police described as armed robbers.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja, the president prayed that God would comfort Fasoranti and give him the fortitude to bear the grievous loss.
He also directed security agencies to swing into action and bring the hoodlums to justice in the shortest possible time.
The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, said with the killing, the Yoruba have no choice than to defend themselves.
Adams, who is the Leader of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), described Olakunrin’s killing by suspected herdsmen as “one too many by Fulanis who are invading the South West in their numbers and perpetrating atrocities”.
In a statement by his Media Assistant, Kehinde Aderemi, on Saturday, the Aare Onakakanfo said the Yoruba race was not at a loss as to what to do to put a complete stop to the atrocities of the Fulani herdsmen, but had continuously issued statements so as to call the attention of the entire world to the development in the peaceful South West.
He said the Yoruba people are not paper tigers and dogs who can only bark without biting, adding: “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.”
Iba Adams said the Yoruba race had been meeting over a period of three weeks on the security threat to the people, calling on Governors of the South West states to ensure the conclusion of the Security Summit process.
He equally charged all traditional rulers to take bold steps to stamp out killings by Fulani herdsmen in their domains.
He said there should be a process of identifying visitors or new settlers in every community, adding that the leader of the visitors or settlers must be known to the traditional rulers.
He commiserated with Pa Fasoranti, praying God to comfort him and his entire household.
He said: “Papa, this is a very trying time. But is is certain justice will come.”
Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, condemned the killing.
Makinde, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Taiwo Adisa, described the dastardly act as shocking, saddening and despicable, adding that security agencies must get to the roots of this ugly incident.
He commiserated with Pa Fasoranti and the family, praying God to grant succour and comfort to the nonagenarian at this trying time.
He described the incident as signifying the “darkest hour” of our contemporary history as a nation, adding that only God could stand by and comfort the family at this time.
Makinde equally condoled with his brother-governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, over the loss of a daughter of one of the illustrious sons of Ondo State and a leader of the Yoruba nation.
The governor, who called on security agencies in Ondo State and the country 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 nation 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 their land from invaders.
His Ekiti State counterpart, Dr Kayode Fayemi, condoled with the family of Fasoranti.
Fayemi in a statement in Ado- Ekiti by
Yinka Oyebode, his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), described the gruesome killing of the 58-year-old Mrs Olakunrin as very sad and devastating.
He urged security agencies to apprehend the killers and also come up with a comprehensive approach towards ending the menace of killings and kidnapping in several parts of the country.
“This is one killing to many and this should be a wake up call on our security agencies to come up with a comprehensive action plan to put a permanent end to this menace of senseless killings and kidnapping in several parts of the country.
“I extend my condolences and that of the good people of Ekiti to our revered leader, Pa Fasoranti and the entire family. Our prayers are with you in this hour of bereavement.
“We pray that God will console you and heal the wound.
“We hope that the security agencies will go all out and ensure that the perpetrators of the gruesome killing are apprehended.
“They should also come up with comprehensive proactive plans to curb the spate of killings and kidnapping and ensure a more secured environment”.
