By Akinnodi Francis, Ondo

A tragic incident occurred in Láòsò, a settlement after Laje Camp in Ondo West Local Government area of Ondo State, where a labourer brutally killed his employer, 60-year-old Mrs. Adelugba, with a machete.

According to a reliable source, the deceased was a well-known farmer who owned three farms in the area. She had only one daughter who resides in Abuja with her husband.

Recently, Mrs. Adelugba had completed her own house at Miracle Land, FFF, Ondo. She had hired a labourer, who lived with her at Láòsò, to assist with farm work.

The source revealed that sometime last week, the labourer was caught stealing kola nuts from one of the farms without Mrs. Adelugba’s permission. When confronted, he pleaded with her not to expose him, as the village’s tradition dictates that anyone caught stealing would be banished.

He promised to either pay for the stolen kola nuts or have the cost deducted from his wages at the end of the year, a compromise the woman accepted.

However, on Saturday, in a shocking turn of events, the labourer monitored the movement of Mrs. Adelugba to her farm, attacked her with a machete, and killed her. He then covered her body with leaves and palm fronds before fleeing to the village.

By Sunday, the suspect reportedly began confessing to his crime, claiming that the deceased had persistently pressured him to own up to the theft. It was he who eventually led villagers to the scene, where they recovered Mrs. Adelugba’s remains and transported them to the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) mortuary.

Police sources confirmed that the suspect was initially detained at the Fagun Police Division before being transferred to the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) in Akure for further investigation.

The deceased’s family has been directed to visit the police headquarters on Wednesday to obtain the necessary clearance for her burial. If they secure permission early in the day, she will be laid to rest on the same day; otherwise, the burial will be postponed until Thursday.

The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the incident, stating that investigations are ongoing.