Police in Ondo State have arrested a 39-year-old food vendor, Esther Godwin, for allegedly pouring boiling water on a nursing mother, Endurance Samuel, accused of sleeping with her husband.
Reports say the suspect, apparently acting on rumour of an illicit affair with her husband, invited the victim to her house in Olofin community of Idanre in Idanre Local Government Area.
The report further claimed that the suspect called the victim on the phone around 10 am on the fateful day to come and collect the palm oil her husband, Sunday Godwin, owed her.
The unsuspecting victim, the reports continued, rushed to collect the palm oil. She was reportedly seated with her baby while expecting her ‘host’ to give her the palm oil.
But to her surprise, the suspect, after taking the little baby from her invitee, queried her relationship with her husband. Endurance, it was further revealed, denied having an affair with Sunday Godwin, adding that she is only one of his farm hands.
Not convinced her claim, the housewife reportedly dashed inside the room only to come out with a kettle of boiling water, which she emptied on Endurance’s body.
It was gathered that the victim tried to run away from the suspect, but he was dragged into the house while Esther poured the whole kettle of boiling water on her.
The victim was immediately rushed to the Health centre in the town, but later referred to General Hospital, Alade Idanre, where she is still receiving treatment.
“Esther called me from where I was learning tailoring to come and collect the palm oil her husband is owing me because I also work as a labourer for some farmers in the town.
” I rushed out of my Oga’s shop excitedly to the place, not knowing that the call was just to lure me to her own shop where she was selling food, to pour hot water on me for the offence I did not commit.”
Already, the police have arrested Esther – who is said to be nursing a month-old baby – charged her before the Magistrate court in Idanre, and remanded at the female correctional centre, Surulere, Ondo, till July 17, 2023.
Her husband – Sunday Godwin – denied having an affair with Endurance, insisting that he only engages her as a labourer on his farm. He expressed astonishment at his wife’s attack on the victim.