Panic has gripped the Ogoda community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State following the discovery of the decomposing remains of an unidentified young woman at a riverbank.
The woman was suspected to have been abducted and killed for ritual purposes, as some parts of her body were reportedly missing.
Her remains were recovered by security agencies alongside the Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area, Eugene Epelle, who visited the scene on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking at the scene, Epelle condemned the incident, saying anyone found responsible would face the full weight of the law.
Epelle called for calm and assured residents of improved security across the local government area.
He stated, “I condemn this act totally. I will make sure I get to the root of this matter. Anyone involved will go in for it. This matter will not end in just investigation. It will go to court for this lady to get justice.”
Also speaking, the Paramount Ruler of Ogoda community, Chief Tom Obutu, said residents were now living in fear following the incident.
Obutu said, based on what he had learnt, the woman was allegedly abducted by a group of boys from a neighbouring community, killed and some of her body parts harvested before her remains were dumped at the riverbank.
He appealed to law enforcement agencies to intensify their presence in the community and protect residents from criminal attacks. “Some boys, about five in number, conspired, abducted a girl from Ahoada East to Ogoda community, after which the girl was killed.
“They (the miscreants) removed her breast, removed her private part, collected her heart, then went and dropped her in a stream very close to the village. I went to the police and gave my report. The security personnel, the Ahoada West Local Government Chairman, we all moved to Ogoda community. Without minding anything, we entered the swamp, and finally we recovered the corpse floating on the water.”
PUNCH Online reports that the remains of the woman had been deposited at a mortuary, although authorities were yet to confirm her identity.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, confirmed the incident, saying the investigation was ongoing.
“Although we are yet to find the identity of the woman, investigation is ongoing to ascertain her identity and apprehend those behind the act”, she said.