A 17-year-old girl has been arrested by men of the Ondo State Police Command over the killing of her foster mother, Mrs. Funmilayo Adelayi, who was stabbed to death while the suspect ran away from home after the incident.
According to Nigeria Tribune, the deceased, aged 54, bled to death in her Oda town home in the suburb of Akure, the Ondo State capital, where her decomposing body was found in her sitting room after her neighbors noticed her absence.
Adelayi was said to have returned from her Ministry of Finance office on March 13, where she attended the inauguration of a new permanent Secretary in her ministry before she returned home to meet her untimely death upon arrival.
She was allegedly stabbed to death by her foster daughter, Wunmi, who lived with her in a three-bedroom bungalow along Superjet Road, Premier Estate, off Oda Road in Ondo town.
According to one of the residents, the odor emanating from the residence attracted attention, leading them to force the gate and doors of the building open under the supervision of policemen.
He said the remains were visible through the window when her car was discovered parked inside the compound while her foster daughter was missing.
He added that the teenager, Wunmi, who had medical challenges, was being treated at the hospital, stating she had undergone treatment several times.
The secondary school student, now in police custody, was reportedly withdrawn from Fiwasaye Girls College, Akure, due to her medical challenges when they became pronounced.
She was transferred to a private school in Akure, where she continued her education and had reached SSS2.
The deceased was advised to return the girl to her parents because of the issue, but she refused, feeling the girl needed adequate medical treatment.
He said, “How can one be living with a person with a mental problem? That is the problem.”
Another eyewitness said the deceased was stabbed in the stomach while the doors of the house were shut against her to prevent her from getting any help.
“You can see blood everywhere from her bedroom to the living room as she struggled to get out and find help, but because the doors were shut against her, she could not make it,” he said.
“The knife her attacker used to kill her was found beside her. This is really very sad.”
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmilayo Odunlami, who confirmed the incident, said the teenager had been arrested while investigation had commenced.
She said, “The case is under investigation. Please note that the young girl has been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing.”
