A lecturer of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Adefolalu Funmilola, was Sunday morning, found dead, with her throat slit, in her apartment in Gbaiko.

The female lecturer, an associate professor of the Department of Biochemistry in the institution, was awaiting promotion to professor before the end of this year when the university council dissolved and must have been reconstituted.

Reports of her demise became public when her church members visited her home because she did not attend service. But noticing that she was inside, they forced themselves in through her room door, where they found her dead.

A witness narrated, “When members of her church went to her residence, they sense she could be in and have to force her door open only to see her in her pool of blood. She was found with her throat slit and knives found beside her.”

Confirming the incident to journalists, the chairman of the Minna chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bolarin Gbolahan, said, “It is strange that academics are now becoming endangered species. Our members are being kidnapped almost every week at Keffi now. We can not sleep in peace again in our homes in Minna.”

He added, “The level of insecurity is becoming worrisome, and something must be done before we all become victims of systemic failure.”

Also confirming the sad incident, the state police public relations officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said, “On 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 on the phone and unfortunately, on getting to the house, the visitors met her lying in a pool of blood with marks of injury on her body.

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

Mr Abiodun said the victim was confirmed dead at the IBB Hospital, Minna. He added that an investigation was ongoing.