Ondo landlady arrested for allegedly poisoning tenant’s 3-year-old child

By Muftau Ogunyemi

A 40-year-old landlady identified as Nafisat Lateef has been arrested for alleged involvement in poisoning of her tenant’s three-year-old son after a misunderstanding in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo state.

The mother of the allegedly poisoned boy, Rofiyat, aged 32, reported the incident was reported on Thursday, Feb.5 at the Odigbo Police Division, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the Ondo Police Command’s Spokesperson said in a statement on Friday in Akure.

Jimoh said the mother reported that the landlady on Wednesday Feb.4 at about 8:30 a.m. gave her son identified as Abdulrasheed, a liquid substance suspected to be poisonous.

Rofiyat told the police that the landlady carried out following a misunderstanding between them.

“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,” the Ondo Police Command spokesperson 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. (NAN)