A 45-year-old woman, simply identified as Abiodun but popularly called ‘Iya Sunday’ has set ablaze her biological mother, accused of witchcraft, in Ondo state. 

Peoples Gazette gathered on Saturday that the tragic incident occurred at Surulere Street in the Ondo West LGA of the state.  

The victim, 85, was said to have also sustained burns from her head to her toes during the incident and is currently being treated at the hospital. 

Witness accounts revealed that the suspect came to her mother’s house in the early hours of Friday and carried out the heinous crime.

One of the witnesses, Sola Oladele, who spoke, said the suspect brought out a gallon of petrol and poured it on the octogenarian. 

“What transpired before the sad incident, we don’t know. But she came as early as 5 a.m  and called out the old woman before pouring petrol on her,” Mr Oladele told The Gazette. 

He revealed that the residents of the street immediately called on the police from Enu-Owa Division for her arrest. 

However, in an interrogation after her arrest, the suspect alleged that her mother was behind her predicament. 

“I went to my mother’s house but when it was 5 A.M, I called my mother out from the house. Immediately after she came out. I poured petrol on her and set her on fire.

“I did that because she is behind my predicament. I went to someone to pray and I was told that she was behind all my problems and things that had also been to me.

“Firstly, I did not believe it until when she took me to a place and after she had left, I was told the same thing that she was behind my predicament. 

“So, since the pastor said I can only be free from bondage until when she died, I decided to take action by pouring petrol on her,” the victim said. 

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ondo state police command, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Akure.

Mrs Odunlami-Omisanya, however, revealed that the old woman died in the early hours of Saturday following the burns she sustained from the incident.

“The case is being investigated by the SCID here in Akure but the old woman died this morning following the injuries she suffered from the burns,” she added.