It is incredible that a 45-year-old daughter would kill her 86-year-old mum just because some people told her to do so.

But for the fact that the story was reported with real names and addresses, the report could easily pass for one of those improbable fictions. Or, how could a 45-year-old woman kill her 86-year-old mother simply because a prophet and someone else told her that the mother was the source of her predicaments in life, and she could only get out of the situation if she killed her?

So, armed with the ‘prophecies’, the lady, simply identified as Abiodun, headed for her mother’s home on June 14 to kill her.

“I went to my mother’s house at 4.00am and sat outside. When it was 5.00 am, I called her out from the house. Immediately she came out, not knowing what was happening, I poured petrol on her body and set her on fire.

According to the suspect, “I went to one pastor for prayer, and he told me that my mother was 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 free from bondage when my mother is dead,” she explained.

The incident occurred at Surulere, opposite the Anglican Cathedral Church, Ondo, in the Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The incident is not only gory, it is saddening as well. If the aged woman, simply identified as Iya Biodun, had the premonition that her daughter came with evil intention, she probably would not have opened the door for her. The worst she could have imagined was that what brought her daughter to her place so early in the morning must have been serious enough, especially if she had not been visiting her at such hours before.

Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, said that the suspect would soon have her day in court.

We could have said the earlier, the better. But then, we would want to suggest that the suspect be examined to see if she is mentally stable. If it is confirmed that she is, then she should be promptly prosecuted. Incidents like this should not be treated with levity. At the heart of it all is pervasive illiteracy and ignorance in our society. But ignorance is no excuse in law. It would be interesting to hear from those she claimed made her kill her mother.

Even then, did the suspect not know the implications of her action? Or, did she think she would have escaped from the scene after the dastardly act?

Anyway, now that she has been arrested, she has to answer the charges all alone. How that would now lead to her escape from the so-called predicaments is yet to be seen. Unless those who allegedly made her commit the crime were speaking metaphorically. Or, what other predicament would someone convicted for murder or manslaughter think of beyond that of imprisonment?

The suspect deserves to be served her due comeuppance if she is mentally balanced, to serve as deterrent to others who might be similarly inclined. We seemed to have lost our moral compass in the country; hence, we continue to debase humanity by the day. We must arrest the trend.

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