Residents of Odigbo Local Government Area in Ondo State have been left in shock following the discovery of three headless bodies floating in a river along the old Odigbo-Ore Road.
The decomposing bodies were found by locals on Sunday, lodged against the riverbanks. Community sources suspect the victims may have been killed by armed assailants before being dumped in the river.
A former youth leader, Mr Shileola, who visited the scene, said the victims remained unidentified.
“I rushed to the scene after receiving a call early in the morning. I tried to identify the victims by their clothing, but we couldn’t recognise any of them. We suspect they were kidnapped and later killed,” he told Daily Trust.
Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola, confirmed the incident, stating that it was reported by residents.
He said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) from the Ore Division recovered the corpses and transferred them to the mortuary at the General Hospital. He added that the police have summoned community leaders and stakeholders to assist in identifying the victims.
“So far, no reports of missing persons have been filed, and none of the bodies have been identified,” Olushola said.
He explained that the river’s location borders Ogun and Edo states, suggesting that the crime may not have occurred within Ondo State.
Nevertheless, investigations are ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the grim discovery, he added.