The Ondo State Police Command has stated that the three headless bodies found floating in a river between Ore and Odigbo communities on Sunday were likely discarded by unidentified individuals from outside the state or carried there by the river’s current.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olayinka Alayande, explained that the belief is supported by the fact that since the incident was reported, no one has come forward to identify the bodies or report any missing persons.
He further noted that the bodies have been retrieved and taken to the morgue at the General Hospital in Ore.
Speaking about the case, the Ondo PPRO confirmed, “I can confirm to you that some three bodies were recovered at the river in Odigbo and immediately it was reported at the Ore Division. The DPO of that division moved a detective to the scene where the three bodies were recovered.”
He also stated that local leaders and stakeholders were called upon to help identify the victims, but no one had provided any information. He continued, “However, the DPO summoned the community leaders and all interest groups to ensure the identification of the body. He also directed anybody who has information about the body to go there (hospital) and check. But ever since then we have not received any, nobody has been able to identify any of the bodies.”
The police are operating under the assumption that the bodies were brought from another location. “So it is believed that those bodies were brought there and dumped at that site by some unknown men. So we believe that it did not happen here. We believe the body is not from this state. However, they were dumped in that river. But perhaps the river swept them to that place,” he said.
A local youth leader, Shileola, reacted to the discovery, calling it disturbing. “I was shocked when I first heard about it over the phone. I rushed to the scene, hoping to identify the victims through their clothing or any other means, but all efforts proved abortive,” he said.
The discovery has caused panic in the nearby communities, with residents raising alarm and reporting the bodies to authorities. The position of the bodies has led to suspicions that they may have been victims of ritual killings.
