Tension has gripped residents of Odigbo town in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State following the shocking discovery of three headless corpses floating in a river along the Osogbo/Ore Road on Wednesday.

The gory sight, which has thrown the community into panic, was first reported by a resident identified as Sileola, who alleged that the victims may have been gruesomely murdered by suspected kidnappers and dumped in the river.

“No one in our community has been able to identify the bodies,” Sileola told reporters. “It’s terrifying because we don’t know who they are, and as of now, no one has been declared missing here. It’s like they were brought from somewhere else.”

Confirming the development,  the spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command, SP Olusola Ayanlade, said the matter was reported to the Ore Division of the command, prompting an immediate response.

“The Divisional Police Officer led a team of detectives to the scene where the bodies were recovered and taken to the morgue at the General Hospital,” Ayanlade stated. “Investigations are currently ongoing.”

He revealed that while the victims remain unidentified, preliminary suspicion is that they may have been swept down the river from another location. No case of a missing person has been reported in the area so far.

According to Ayanlade, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Wilfred Afolabi, has already ordered community leaders to assist law enforcement by working to establish the identities of the deceased.

Meanwhile, the grim discovery has sparked renewed calls for heightened security patrols in and around the Ore axis, a notorious flashpoint for criminal activities.

Residents are urging the authorities to intensify surveillance efforts and unravel the mystery behind the chilling find to prevent a recurrence.

Tragedy struck on Tuesday morning in Akure, the Ondo State capital, as prominent socialite and hotelier, Mr. Adesoji Adeleye, was gruesomely murdered by unknown assailants at his hotel.

Sources confirmed that the shocking incident occurred while Adeleye was in one of the rooms within his hotel premises, reportedly preparing for the day’s business.

According to an eyewitness account, the armed men gained access to the hotel and headed straight for the victim, who was already up and about. The intruders were said to have overpowered him, stabbing him multiple times until he succumbed to his injuries. His lifeless body was later discovered lying in a pool of blood.

The brutal nature of the killing has sent shockwaves across the Akure social and hospitality scenes, where Adeleye was a well-known figure.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, SP Olusola Ayanlade, said the command has already deployed a team of detectives to the scene of the crime. He added that efforts are underway to apprehend those responsible for the heinous act.

The motive behind the killing remains unknown as at press time, but residents and patrons of the hotel are calling for swift justice.

A stampede at the Gombe main Eid prayer ground on Sunday claimed the lives of two young children, identified as Aisha Salisu Ahmed (4½ years old) and Maryam Abdullahi Gwani (4 years old).

The tragic incident reportedly occurred when a large crowd, mainly women and children, rushed to exit the prayer venue, causing chaos and trampling. Several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Reacting to the unfortunate event, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, expressed his condolences to the bereaved families in a statement signed by the Director-General of Press Affairs, Government House, Ismaila Uba Misilli.

“We grieve with their families during this difficult time, and our hearts are with them as they mourn the loss of their beloved children,” the governor stated.

Governor Yahaya has ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the stampede to prevent future occurrences.

“The safety and well-being of our citizens remain a top priority,” he said, assuring that the government would learn from the tragedy and implement corrective measures.

In response to the crisis, the governor dispatched a high-powered delegation, led by the Chief of Staff of Government House, Alhaji Abubakar Inuwa Kari, to visit medical facilities treating the injured.

The delegation toured Zainab Bulkachuwa Hospital, Specialist Hospital, and the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, where most patients were reported to be in stable condition. Doctors assured that many had already been treated and discharged, while others were expected to recover soon.

To support the victims and their families, Governor Yahaya has directed that all medical expenses be fully covered by the state government, ensuring proper care and easing the financial burden on parents.