…Police arrest suspect, arraign in court
By Our Reporter
A farmer, Mr Bright Kalu, has called for justice following the killing of his 18-month-old daughter by an assailant at a farm settlement in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The tragic incident occurred on June 8, 2026, at Agoti Settlement, a farming community in Idanre, leaving residents shocked and grieving.
Kalu, an indigene of Abia State who resides in the settlement, said his daughter was attacked while in the care of her mother at their farm camp.
According to him, he was working on another farmland some distance away from the settlement when the incident occurred.
Recounting the incident, the distraught father said he was returning from a nearby camp where he had gone to purchase food items when he noticed that his wife appeared distressed.
“On Monday, June 8, 2026, I was returning from a nearby camp where I had gone to buy food items when I met my wife looking troubled and distressed,” he said.
“When I asked what had happened, she told me that someone had come to the camp and attacked her, and that she was able to rescue three of our children, but one was missing.”
Kalu said he immediately mobilised his elder brother, Mr Ifeanyi Kalu, and together they joined his wife in searching the surrounding area for the missing child.
According to him, their search ended in tragedy when they discovered the lifeless body of the toddler behind their residence.
“My elder brother, Mr Ifeanyi Kalu, and I immediately followed her to the camp and searched the area.
“We did not find anyone, but we later discovered the lifeless body of my daughter behind our house,” he said.
The grieving father appealed to the Ondo State Government, security agencies and human rights organisations to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible for the crime are held accountable.
He explained that the matter was initially reported at the Olofin Police Station in Idanre before it was transferred to the Ondo State Police Command Headquarters in Akure for further investigation.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said a suspect had been arrested in connection with the case.
Jimoh disclosed that the police had concluded investigations and subsequently charged the suspect to court for prosecution.
“The suspect has been arrested and the case has been charged to court,” the police spokesman said.
He added that further details regarding the prosecution would be made available in due course.
The incident has generated concern among residents of the agrarian community, with many calling for a thorough prosecution of the case and greater security around remote farm settlements.
The police have assured the public of their commitment to ensuring that justice is served in the matter.
