A teenage housemaid identified simply as Wumi has been arrested for allegedly stabbing her boss, Funmilayo Adelayi, to death in Ondo State.
Mrs Adelayi, a civil servant who works at the state Ministry of Finance, was killed in her three-bedroom bungalow along Superjet road, Premier Estate, off Oda town in Akure, the state capital.
Daily Trust learnt that the incident happened last week Wednesday after the woman had attended the inauguration of a new permanent secretary in her ministry.
But the news of her gruesome killing was made public on Tuesday after Mrs Adelayi’s body was found in her living room in a pool of blood.
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Several neighbours, who confirmed the incident, said the middle-aged woman was found dead with her body already decomposing.
One of the neighbours, who pleaded for anonymity, disclosed that they had been perceiving an odour from Mrs Adelayi’s compound for some days before the corpse was discovered.
He said the neighbours had made several attempts to find out what was smelling in the compound until it was noticed that the gate had been padlocked from the outside.
“We were worried and had to forcefully open the gate and met everything intact in the compound including her vehicle parked which made us realise that she was inside.
“But by the time we entered the living room, we found out that she had been killed and her body was already decomposing,” the neighbour said.
Another eyewitness said the deceased was stabbed in the stomach, while the door must have been shut against her to prevent her from getting help or assistance.
“We could see blood everywhere from her bedroom to the living room as she struggled to get out and find help, but because the doors were shut against her she could not make it,” he said.
“The knife her attacker used to kill her was found beside her. This is very sad,” he added.
It was gathered that the deceased stayed alone in the compound with her housemaid.
Sources revealed that the housemaid, identified simply as Wumi, had mental issues but had to undergo treatment several times.
One of the sources close to the family of the late Mrs Adelayi said Wumi was withdrawn from a girls’ college in Akure when her mental issues became more pronounced.
She added that Wumi was later admitted to a private school in the same town where she continued her education.
“This is sad and we have repeatedly advised the woman to return the girl to her parents because of her mental challenge but she refused.
“Perhaps because the woman felt the treatment she gave her would be enough. So, how can one be living with a person with a mental problem,” she said.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the incident when contacted for reaction.
She said the housemaid had been taken into police custody and investigation commenced.
“Surely, we will let you know further at the end of our investigation,” the PPRO added.
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