A 45-year-old woman simply identified as Abiodun and popularly called “Iya Sunday,” has set her mother ablaze in a bid to kill her.
Abiodun claimed she was told by a Pastor that she would be free from a spiritual bondage after the death of her 86-year-old mother.
Witnesses said the suspect poured petrol on her mother and set her ablaze on Friday morning around 5am.
The incident happened at Surulere, opposite Anglican Cathedral Church in Ondo West local government area of Ondo State.
Gory picture of the victim showed that she sustained severe burns all over her body and receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
An eyewitness, Sola Oladele, said the suspect came to her mother’s house in the early hours of Friday.
He said she called out her mother before pouring petrol on her and setting her on fire.
According to him: “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 said her action was because she was told that her mother was behind her predicament.
She said: “I went to my mother’s house around 4 a.m. and sat outside. When it was 5 am, 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.
“What started it is that I went to one Pastor for prayers and he told me that my mother is behind what is happening to me. I did not believe it at first. My mother also took me somewhere to see one woman. After my mother left, the woman also said the same thing.
“I burnt my mother because of what I heard from the pastor and the woman, that I can only be freed from bondage when my mother is dead.”
Police sources said the case would be transferred to the Police headquarters in Akure for further investigation.
The Nation.