A 45-year-old housewife, Abiodun, also known as Iya Sunday, has admitted to setting her 86-year-old mother ablaze in Ondo town, Ondo State, after claiming her pastor told her that her mother was behind her predicament.
The victim, who suffered burns from head to toe, was initially admitted to an undisclosed hospital but sadly passed away a few days later.
Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that Abiodun visited her mother’s house around 5 a.m. on Friday, called her outside, and then poured petrol on her before setting her on fire.
One witness said, “What happened between them before the incident we don’t know, but the suspect has been arrested by police at the Enu-Owa division for further investigation.”
Abiodun explained her actions, saying, “I went to my mother’s house around 4 a.m. and sat outside. When it was 5 a.m., I called out my mother from the house. Immediately after she came out, not knowing what was happening, I poured petrol on her body and set her on fire.”
She further added, “What started it is that I went to one pastor for prayer, and he told me that my mother was behind what was happening to me. I did not believe it at first. My mother also took me somewhere to see a woman. After my mother left, the woman also said the same thing.”
Abiodun claimed that these revelations led her to the drastic decision.
“I burnt my mother because of what I heard from the pastor and the woman, that I can only be free from bondage when my mother is dead.”
The spokesperson for the state police command, Funmi Odunlami, confirmed the arrest of the suspect and stated that an investigation is ongoing.
“The victim later died in the hospital, a few days after she was admitted,” Odunlami said.
