Tragedy struck residents of Ondo State after a 27-year-old man, Quozeem Awe, allegedly stabbed a nursing mother, Deborah Adeleye, to death during a disagreement linked to house rent in Ore.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the day at the Daystar area of Ore-Alaba in Odigbo Local Government Area, reportedly left the victim’s husband and their daughter with injuries, forcing residents to flee their homes in fear.
Witnesses said tension had been building between tenants and the suspect, believed to be the landlord’s son, over alleged rent issues. The disagreement later escalated when the suspect allegedly arrived at the apartment armed with weapons.
Speaking from his hospital bed, the deceased’s husband said tenants had earlier been served a quit notice even though their rent had not expired, noting that his tenancy was due to end on March 16 and preparations to move to a new apartment were already underway.
He alleged that the suspect gained entry into the building at dawn and attacked his wife while she was resting, fatally stabbing her before turning on him during a struggle that left him with multiple injuries.
Their daughter, identified as Tunrayo Adeleye, was also said to have sustained a stab wound while attempting to escape the attack, while neighbours later rushed the victims to a nearby medical facility for emergency treatment.
Police authorities confirmed that the suspect later turned himself in. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Abayomi, said officers recovered a blood-stained cutlass at the scene and took the suspect into custody, adding that one victim was confirmed dead at General Hospital Ore while the injured victims were receiving treatment.
Abayomi further disclosed that the suspect has been arraigned before a court and remanded in a correctional facility as investigations into the incident continue.