In a shocking incident in Láòsò, a settlement near Laje Camp in Ondo West Council, Ondo State, a 60-year-old well-known farmer, Mrs. Adelugba, was allegedly killed by one of her laborers.
The gruesome murder reportedly stemmed from a dispute over stolen kola nuts from one of the three farms owned by the victim.
According to a local source, the laborer resided with Mrs. Adelugba at the farm settlement. Recently, he was caught stealing kola nuts without her permission. When confronted, he begged her not to report him, as the village tradition mandates banishment for anyone found guilty of theft. The laborer offered to either pay for the stolen goods or have their cost deducted from his year-end wages. Mrs. Adelugba agreed to the latter option.
However, on Saturday, the situation took a deadly turn. The laborer allegedly tracked Mrs. Adelugba’s movements to her farm, where he attacked her with a machete and killed her. After the act, he concealed her body under leaves and palm fronds before fleeing to the village. Later, he confessed to the crime, claiming that the farmer had pressured him into admitting to the theft.
Villagers, guided by the suspect, recovered Mrs. Adelugba’s remains from the scene and transferred them to the mortuary at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH). The suspect was initially detained at Fagun Police Division before being moved to the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) in Akure for further investigation.
Efforts to reach Funmi Odunlami, the state police command’s spokesperson, were unsuccessful. However, a senior police officer confirmed the incident and stated that investigations are ongoing.
