What kind of hatred would be raging through the mind of a father that he would go so low to poison his own child in the bid to get separated from his wife; that is the thought going through the residents and neighbor of Kazeem Olajide.

Kazeem is suspected to have poisoned his daughter, Zainab, whom he had with his wife, Abosede at their house in Toluwalase Estate, Ijoko-Abule around Lemode axis, Ogun State.

The mother had left the child in the care of the father to sweep the premises when she got back to meet her baby gasping for breath and pouring foam from the mouth. Her cry brought the neighbors running and the baby was rushed to the hospital but died later.

Kazeem was said to have tried to run away but was restrained by the neighbours. The matter was reported to the community's traditional ruler, Oba Solomon Sokunbi, who invited the police on the matter.

Kazeem was said to have confessed to using a suspected poisonous liquid to end the life of the 41-day old baby. His wife said she had seen a strange bottle which she thought contained local medication known as herbs

A neighbor, Biodun, said the father must have poisoned the girl as a means to get divorced from his wife because he does not love his wife. He also noted that the couple had just moved into the estate.

The Landlord of the rented apartment the couple was staying revealed that Kazeem had behaved in suspicious manner just come days before the death of the baby.

He said, “Three days before the incident, Kazeem (Olajide) was looking for a pair of his slippers. When he did not find it on time, he started raining curses. I called him by his daughter's name, and tried to caution him, but he warned me not to call him by her name again. It was when the incident happened that I realised he might have intentionally killed the child.”

Oba Sokunbi said the suspect should face the wrath of the law after thorough investigation.

“It was the landlord who came to report the case to me and I directed my chiefs to bring him and the wife to the palace. I asked the husband and he confessed. He said it was the handiwork of the devil.

“I called the police from the Agbado Police Division to arrest him. They said he had been transferred to the state command headquarters. I have been following the case. This is a pure murder case and I want the police to duly prosecute the suspect and let him face the law.”

Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed that the incident had been reported and investigations will be concluded.