By Rotimi Ojomoyela

Ado-Ekiti—A 73-year-old pensioner, Mrs Adetutu Ajayi, was on Tuesday hacked to death at her residence in Ado-Ekiti by unknown assailants, which some residents suspected to be ritualists.

Mrs Ajayi, daughter of the former Accountant General of the Old Western Region, Mr. Samuel Sotoowa, was killed at her residence at Moferere, Ajilosun area of Ado-Ekiti.

The deceased was reportedly found in a pool of her blood in her three bedroom bungalow by church members, who went visiting Tuesday morning.

According to some of the residents, who saw her body before she was taken to the morgue, the her skull was ripped open by machete and there were several marks all over her body and some of her fingers chopped off.

The retiree of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and mother of five, who lived alone in the flat with a tenant occupying the boys quarters  built at the back of her house, was described as an easy-going person.

Daughter speaks

Speaking on the murder, the deceased’s daughter, Mrs Titilayo Ajayi, said she was called from Akure, capital of Ondo State, at 11p.m. by church members.

Her words: “When I got here, her blood had been drained and taken away because a bucket Mama left in the store was taken away, which we believed was used to drain blood and her fingers were cut off, which made us to suspect that it was done by ritualists.

“She ought to attend a vigil. But when the Pastor did not see her, she was worried and sent a delegation to check on her.

“It was when they got here that they saw her lifeless body and immediately raised the alarm.

“We saw the record Mama left on her calendar. Anytime she woke up at 5a.m., she would take her bath and mark the calendar. The calendar was marked on the day, suggesting that she was killed after 5a.m.”

She begged the Police to conduct thorough investigations into the crime and bring the perpetrators to book. She also begged for the Police to fast track the investigation so that her mother can be buried.

The 82-year-old husband of the deceased, Mr. Clement Ajayi, who lived at Irun-Ekiti, described the incident as “sad, pathetic and surpri-sing,” saying it confirmed that the lives of Nigerians were no longer safe.

“I could not imagine seeing my wife like that. Her head, eyes, hands, laps and neck were butchered; you could hardly identify her. It was a gruesome murder and justice must be done in this matter.”

When called to confirm the story, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ekiti Command, Mr. Alberto Adeyemi, said the woman has been taken to the morgue.

He said: “We are aware. We got the information and our men are working round the clock to ensure that the perpetrators are caught.”