Ondo Community Raises The Alarm Over Strange Deaths

Residents of Akotogbo community, in Irele local government area of Ondo State, have raised the alarm over what they described as recurring mystery deaths in the area, following the discovery of two lifeless bodies in separate locations within a month.

The incidents, which have reportedly thrown the agrarian community into fear, have also triggered calls for urgent intervention by security agencies and the state government.

Akotogbo, a community predominantly occupied by farmers and traders, is home to various ethnic groups, including the Ikales, Edos, Urhobos, Itsekiris, Ijaws, and Hausa/Fulani.

Findings revealed that one of the victims, Mr Loyinmi Bode, a farmer and grassroots politician, was allegedly found dead in a bush path after leaving for his farm.

Residents said the deceased, who was widely believed to emerge as a Supervisory Councillor in the area, never returned home after departing for his farm.

Community sources lamented that no arrest or prosecution had been made in connection with the incident, leaving the family of the deceased devastated and in pain.

In another incident, a resident identified as Andrew Friday was reportedly found dead in a bush after allegedly receiving a phone call in the early hours of Friday, 8 May, before leaving home without informing anyone of his destination.

‎It was gathered that members of his family became worried after he failed to return home, prompting youths in the community to launch a search operation. His lifeless body was later discovered in a bush area alongside a handset suspected to belong to his attackers.

‎Reacting to the development, the spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command, Abayomi Jimoh, said the command was fully aware of the incidents and had already intensified security measures within Akotogbo and adjoining communities to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

‎He added that operatives of the State Intelligence Department and other tactical units had been strategically deployed to gather credible intelligence to combat crime.

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