The curiosity of some residents of Ijapo Estate in Akure, the Ondo State capital has saved a prostitute from the hands of a ritual killer.

The victim identified as Mrs. Funmilola Osundare, is currently battling for life as she had been inflicted with serious injuries before she was rescued.

She had machete cuts on her face, shoulders and hands.

Sources said the victim is married with a 12-year old son but visited her assailant as a call girl.

Residents in the area said the suspect had only moved into the apartment about three days earlier.

One of the residents said it was the noise from the victim that aroused their curiosity but the suspect told them that he was having a quarrel with his girlfriend after initially telling them he was trying to kill a snake.

The witness said: “I woke up around 12am and was hearing strange noise in the compound.

“I thought the noise was from the hotel at the back of the house.

“I later called the young man living in the apartment where the noise was coming from and he said he was killing a snake.

“The noise started again around 1 am, so I called my other neighbours and went to the room of the young man.

“We called him and he said he had a little argument with his girlfriend.

“I wanted to force my way into the room but he blocked the way.

“We noticed bloodstains on his cloth, and when he suspected that we were about to know what was happening, he fled.

“One of my neighbours then called the landlord.”

The victim was rushed to the police clinic for treatment but was referred to the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Akure.

The landlord of the house, who is also a football coach, declined to give his name. But he said he did not know the suspect.

He said: “I was called by one of my tenants that someone was killed in my house.

“I went to the police station immediately before going to the house because I don’t live in the compound.

“On getting to the house with the police, we met the door locked.

“On opening it, we met the girl on the floor in a pool of her blood.

“My neighbour called the Amotekun corps and we rushed her to the hospital.”

The landlord, however, said he did not know the fleeing tenant, saying that the suspect must have moved into the house without his knowledge or approval.

He said: “Some days ago, while I was on training pitch with my boys, I saw this young man and I don’t really know his name.

“I was told he normally came over as spectator. He told me he wanted a room in my house and I told him to come with a guarantor.

“Two days after, I was told he had moved in without my knowledge. I asked him to move out immediately or get someone to represent him.

“I was surprised to see this. I don’t know his name and have never met him before he came to me.”

The victim’s son, Pelumi Obaje, said: “My mother told me she works in a hotel but I don’t know what she does.

“I received a call that my mother was in the hospital and I came to meet her there.”

Spokesman for the Ondo State Police Command, SP Fumilayo Odunlami, who confirmed the incident, said the victim was responding to treatment. (The Nation)

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