Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a 27-year-old man, Kazeem Awe, over the alleged killing of a nursing mother, Motunrayo Adeleye, in Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday at about 5:00 a.m. in the Alaba axis of Ore, a neighbourhood described by residents as usually peaceful. The attack reportedly took place beside a popular school in the area, sending panic through the community as residents fled for safety.
According to sources, Awe — said to be the son of the landlord of the building where the victims resided — allegedly attacked the deceased with a cutlass following a dispute over unpaid rent. The disagreement was reportedly between the suspect and the deceased’s husband, Mathew Adeleye, who was a tenant in the property owned by Awe’s father.
During the altercation, the suspect allegedly injured Mathew Adeleye and the couple’s daughter in addition to fatally wounding the nursing mother.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Mathew Adeleye recounted that the conflict stemmed from a lingering disagreement over house rent. He claimed that tenants in the building were issued quit notices even though their rent had not expired.
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“I had informed friends to help us search for another apartment, and we eventually secured one. We were preparing to move out that same Thursday the incident occurred,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the arrest of the suspect and the incident. He stated that the victims were rushed to the General Hospital in Ore, where medical personnel confirmed Motunrayo Adeleye dead.
Jimoh added that the injured husband and daughter are currently receiving treatment, while the body of the deceased has been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary for further procedures.
The police spokesperson assured that investigations are ongoing and that the suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of inquiries.