Landlord’s son allegedly hacks tenant to death in Ondo

A primary school teacher, identified as Bamitale Joy, has reportedly been hacked to death after an argument ensued between her and the son of her landlord at Irele town, the headquarters of Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State.  It was gathered that Ms Joy, who was a teacher in one of the private nursery […]

A primary school teacher, identified as Bamitale Joy, has reportedly been hacked to death after an argument ensued between her and the son of her landlord at Irele town, the headquarters of Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State. 

It was gathered that Ms Joy, who was a teacher in one of the private nursery and primary schools in the town, was having issues with her landlord before the disagreement escalated.

One of the neighbours, who spoke on Wednesday, said the 26-year-old son of the landlord, whose name was concealed, was immediately reported to the police and was arrested. 

He explained that the sad incident has now thrown the family of the victim into mourning, adding that tension has also enveloped the community where the incident occurred. 

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“A minor argument ensued between the Joy and the 26-year-old man, the son of her landlord. The argument later escalated into a heated altercation during which she (Joy) was hacked to death by the suspect.

“So, her gruesome death has thrown the entire family mourning and community into tension,” he told our reporter. 

According to him, the gruesome killing of Ms Joy almost led to a breakdown of law and order but was quickly brought under control by the police. 

Confirming the incident, a police source, who spoke in confidence, said the suspect is currently being detained at the Irele Divisional Police Headquarters, where he is assisting the police with the investigation.

He explained that the suspect would soon be transferred to the homicide section of the state police command in Akure for further investigation.

Speaking on the development, the chairman of Irele Local Government Area, Mr. Olajide Akinfe, said that he held a closed-door meeting with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and pledged the council’s full support in the ongoing investigation.

Mr Akinfe condemned the killing and described it as “heinous and despicable,” emphasising the importance of community vigilance and the collective condemnation of violent acts.

He praised the swift response of the police, which he said helped to calm tensions in the area.

Mr Akinfe appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid resorting to mob justice. He urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by providing credible information that could assist the investigation.

“Our administration maintains a zero-tolerance stance on crime and violence. We will continue working closely with security agencies and community leaders to ensure the safety and well-being of our people,” he stated.

Olayinka Alayande, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, confirmed the incident, saying the police have arrested the suspect. 

While explaining that the police have begun proper investigation into the case, Alayande noted that the suspect would be charged to court soon to face the consequences of his action, if found guilty.