A 40-year-old woman, identified as Nafisat Lateef, has been arrested by the Ondo State Police Command over her alleged role in the poisoning of her tenant’s three-year-old son following a dispute in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Akure.
He said the incident was reported at the Odigbo Police Division on Thursday, February 5, by the child’s mother, 32-year-old Rofiyat.
According to the police, the complainant alleged that on Wednesday, February 4, at about 8:30 a.m., the landlady gave her son, Abdulrasheed, a liquid substance suspected to be poisonous, allegedly as a result of a misunderstanding between them.
“Shortly after taking the substance, the child started vomiting and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he received urgent medical attention,” Jimoh said.
He added that detectives acted swiftly on the report, leading to the arrest of the suspect during an intelligence-driven operation.
The liquid substance allegedly given to the child was also recovered in the course of the investigation.
“The suspect is currently in police custody and has made useful statements. Investigation is ongoing, and the case will be charged to court upon conclusion,” the spokesperson stated.
Jimoh also noted that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, cautioned residents against allowing landlord-tenant disagreements to degenerate into conflict, warning that such disputes often result in poor coexistence and can escalate into criminal acts.
He reassured the public of the command’s readiness to respond promptly to complaints and its commitment to ensuring justice in all cases.
“The Commissioner of Police urged residents of Ondo State to remain law-abiding and to continue to cooperate with the police by providing timely and credible information, which will assist in crime prevention and the protection of lives and property across the state,” Jimoh added.
