Landlord’s Son Kills Nursing Mother Over Unpaid Rent In Ondo

Police in Ondo State have arrested a 27-year-old man, Kazeem Awe, for allegedly killing a nursing mother and injuring two others during a dispute over unpaid rent in Ore, the headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area.

‎According to the police spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, the suspect reportedly attacked three tenants in a building owned by his father, inflicting multiple stab wounds.

‎One of the victims, 30-year-old Deborah Adeleye, a nursing mother, was pronounced dead at the General Hospital Ore, while her husband and one of their children received treatment and are reportedly stable.

‎The state police command described the incident as a tragic escalation of a domestic dispute and called on landlords and tenants to resolve conflicts peacefully.

‎Jimoh said, “The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old suspect, Kazeem Awe, in connection with the case of a suspected murder incident that occurred in the early hours of 26th February 2026 at Daystar Area, Ore-Alaba, Ore.

‎”The suspect allegedly attacked three of his tenants, inflicting multiple stab wounds on them. The victims were rushed to the General Hospital Ore, where one of them, identified as Adeleye Motunrayo, was confirmed dead by medical personnel. The other two victims are currently receiving treatment.

‎”Police operatives promptly visited the scene, recovered a blood-stained cutlass suspected to have been used in the attack, and took the suspect into custody.”

Recounting how the incident happened, the victim’s husband, Matthew Adeleye, speaking from his hospital bed said he and other tenants had received quit notices despite their rents not being due. According to him, his tenancy was set to expire on March 16, and he had already begun making arrangements to move out of the property.

‎“We had found a new apartment and were preparing to relocate that same Thursday. There was no prior fight with the suspect,” Adeleye explained.

‎He said that on the morning of the attack, the suspect allegedly knocked on their door. While he briefly stepped out to use the toilet, another tenant reportedly opened the entrance, allowing the suspect to enter.

‎“Moments later, he rushed into the room where my wife was lying on the bed. He jumped on her. She screamed that she had been stabbed and died instantly,” Adeleye recounted.

‎Adeleye said he tried to stop the suspect but was overpowered and stabbed multiple times in the back, hand, and leg. Their first child, Tunrayo Adeleye, also sustained a stab wound on her wrist while trying to escape.

‎Neighbours and early-morning visitors rushed the victims to a nearby hospital. Deborah was pronounced dead on arrival, while her husband and daughter are currently receiving treatment.