20-year-old Benue farmhand found dead in Osun, police launch investigation

A 20-year-old farmhand from Benue State, identified as Saviour, has been found dead hanging from a tree in Orile-Owu, Osun State, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The body was discovered on Thursday in the Alagbede area of the community.

Residents said Saviour had recently gone missing but resurfaced a few days before he was found dead.

A community member identified as Kareem described the deceased as an easy-going person who had moved to Orile-Owu to work as a farm labourer.

Kareem said residents were shocked by the discovery, adding that there had reportedly been plans to return Saviour to Benue State before the end of the year.

He said the incident was reported to the police and that operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps also visited the scene and spoke with residents.

Confirming the incident, the Osun State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the deceased was 20 years old and hailed from Benue State.

Ojelabi said police operatives had visited the scene and that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, had ordered a thorough investigation.

According to him, the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

The police have not publicly established the circumstances surrounding Saviour’s death.