A decomposing body of an unidentified man has been found near the Aper Aku Stadium in the Benue State capital.
The corpse was discovered adjacent to the Benue State Police Officers’ Mess and close to the Benue State Education Quality Assurance (BEQA) office.
According to Daily Trust, the body has already started producing foul odour.
It was revealed that as of Tuesday morning, no relevant authority had evacuated the corpse from the area.
A government worker in the vicinity, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that he and some neighbours discovered the body late on Friday night.
“I went to the spot with some neighbours and we saw the corpse. The man’s blood splashed on the wall of the Aper Aku stadium fence. The body was burnt with hands tied.
“That was on Friday. By Sunday, the odour became unbearable, and today is the worst. If the dead body is not taken away by tomorrow, nobody will sit here again because of the bad smell,” he recounted.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Benue State Command, CSP Catherine Anene, confirmed that the police were aware of the situation and that appropriate actions were being taken.
Anene stated that preliminary investigations suggested the deceased was a suspected thief who was overpowered by individuals he allegedly attempted to rob. According to witness accounts, the man was struck with an object, while his accomplices managed to escape.
“The deceased’s attire suggests he was likely involved in criminal activity. However, we have contacted the relevant agency to facilitate the evacuation of the body,” Anene added.
Residents of the area urged authorities to expedite the removal of the corpse to prevent further health and environmental hazards.
