Ondo landlady arrested for allegedly poisoning toddler after dispute with tenant

Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a 40-year-old woman, Nafisat Lateef, for allegedly administering a poisonous substance to a three-year-old boy in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.

The suspect, who is reportedly the landlady of the victim’s mother, is accused of forcefully giving the liquid substance to the toddler, identified as Abdulrasheed, following a disagreement with the child’s mother, Rofiyat, in the Omifon community.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo State, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the alleged offence occurred in early February 2026 after tensions escalated between the suspect and the child’s mother at their residence.

Jimoh explained that detectives from the Odigbo Police Division responded swiftly after the 32-year-old mother reported the matter at the police station.

He disclosed that the suspect was promptly apprehended and the suspected poisonous liquid was recovered during the operation.

According to the police spokesperson, the suspect has been cooperating with investigators and has made confessional statements while in custody.

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He added that the child was immediately rushed to a medical facility after reportedly experiencing persistent vomiting following the ingestion of the substance. The boy is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

Providing further details, Jimoh said the incident was reported to have occurred at about 8:30 a.m. on February 4, 2026, noting that the alleged act was linked to a misunderstanding between the suspect and the complainant.

“The act was reportedly carried out following a misunderstanding between the complainant and the suspect, who is the complainant’s landlady,” Jimoh stated.

He further revealed that the police recovered the liquid substance during their investigation, adding that the case would be charged to court upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations.

The Ondo State Police Command reiterated its commitment to protecting residents and ensuring that individuals found culpable in criminal acts are brought to justice.