An eyewitness, who identified himself as Shileola, a youth leader in the community, alleged that the victims were gruesomely murdered and dumped in the river by suspected kidnappers.

Expressing his shock over the incident, Shileola noted that the exact cause of the victims’ deaths remains unclear.

“I was shocked when I first received the news over the phone,” he said. “I rushed to the scene, hoping to recognize the victims by their clothing or any other clues, but all efforts were in vain.”

He further speculated that the victims might have been killed elsewhere and their bodies disposed of in the river, as there had been no recent reports of missing persons in the area. Shileola called on residents to remain alert and security-conscious in light of the development.

Confirming the discovery, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka, said three headless bodies were found in the Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.

“I can confirm that three bodies were recovered from a river in Odigbo. As soon as the report was made at the Ore Division, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) dispatched detectives to the scene,” he stated.

According to him, the recovered bodies were taken to the morgue at the General Hospital. Community leaders and other relevant groups were also invited to help with identification, but no one has been able to recognize the deceased.

Olayinka added that preliminary findings suggest the victims were likely murdered elsewhere and dumped at the river by unknown individuals. “The location where the bodies were found shares boundaries with Ogun and Edo States, so it is suspected that the victims may not be from the immediate area,” he said.