Ondo residents have been gripped by horror as three headless corpses were discovered floating in a river near Ore.

Panic has gripped residents of Odigbo Local Government Area in Ondo State following the shocking discovery of three headless bodies floating in a river along the Odigbo-Ore Old Road.

THISDAY gathered on Wednesday that the gruesome discovery was made when locals stumbled upon the decomposing bodies floating in the river, with some lodged against the riverbanks.

However, eyewitness accounts suggest that the victims were brutally murdered and dumped in the river by suspected kidnappers.

A former youth leader of the community who simply identified himself as Shileola expressed shock over the incident.

“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.

He speculated that the victims might have been killed elsewhere and their bodies dumped in the river, as no reports of missing persons have been recorded in the area so far.

Sileola, however, urged residents to remain vigilant and security-conscious in the wake of the incident.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Ayanlade Olushola Olayinka confirmed the development.

His words: “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.

“However, the DPO upon recovering the bodies, they were taken to the morgue at General Hospital and the DPO summoned the community leaders and all interest groups to ensure the identification of the body.”

“But, we have not seen anybody to identify any of the bodies and 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 actually happen in Ondo State.”

“The area it happened bordered a lot of states, both Ogun and Edo States. So we believe the body is not from this state. However, it was dumped in that river.”

Olayinka however assured that further details would be provided as the investigation progresses.

(AriseNews TV)