- Safiu Kehinde
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 40-year-old landlady, Nafisat Lateef, for allegedly poisoning of her tenant’s three-year-old son in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the command’s Spokesperson, made this known in a statement on Friday in Akure.
According to Jimoh, the incident was reported on Thursday, Feb.5 at the Odigbo Police Division by the victim’s mother, Rofiyat.
The 30-year-old woman narrated that the incident occured on Wednesday around 8:30am.
“According to the report, the incident occurred on Wednesday February 4 at about 8:30 a.m., when the suspect allegedly gave the victim identified as Abdulrasheed, a liquid substance suspected to be poisonous.
“The act was reportedly carried out following a misunderstanding between the complainant and the suspect, who is the complainant’s landlady.
“Shortly after consuming the substance, the child began vomiting and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he received medical attention.
“Police detectives, during a swift and intelligence-led operation, arrested the suspect. In the course of investigation, the detectives also recovered the liquid substance,” he said.
Jimoh, who said the suspect was currently in police custody and had made useful statements, explained that investigation was ongoing, and the case would be charged to court upon its conclusion.
The spokesperson also said the state Commissioner of Police (CP) advised residents to avoid landlord–tenant disputes, and warned that such disagreements often led to poor coexistence, and could escalate into criminal acts.
He, therefore, reassured members of the public that the command remained readily available to respond promptly to all complaints and was fully committed to ensuring justice in all cases.
“In conclusion, CP Adebowale Lawal urged the good people of Ondo State to remain law-abiding and to continue cooperating with the police by providing timely and credible information.
“The information will aid crime prevention and the protection of lives and property throughout the state,” he said.