Worried over the mystery surrounding the death of 10 young men found by farmers in Edo State, the state government has resolved to carry out an autopsy on the bodies to find out the cause of death.
State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare corroborated the Police story on how the bodies were found.
He told journalists in Benin city after the weekly Executive Council (EXCO): “The collaboration between the vigilante group, the hunters and the police led to the discovery of corpses of 10 young men, aged probably between 23 and 25, along a bush path.
“They were killed and there were no identifying marks to identify them or even know the cause of death of these young men as there are no signs of trauma or anything to determine how these men were killed or how they died.
“The Edo State Government is very saddened by this occurrence and has ordered that an autopsy be carried out to determine the cause of death and for the police to investigate to find out who they are, how they got there and what happened because the government is not pleased with the news.”
The Police Command in Edo had on Wednesday said that its men had recovered 10 male dead bodies along a bush path by Ibillo- Lampese axis along the Lagos-Abuja Expressway.
According to a statement by SP Chidi Nwabutor, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command in Benin on Wednesday, the Police through credible intelligence, and in collaboration with the vigilance group and the hunters discovered the bodies on Tuesday at about 1100hours.
Said he: “During preliminary investigation, photographs of the dead bodies were taken.
“Also, the bodies were thoroughly searched and examined but there was no noticeable mark of violence or materials that could have led to identifying where they were from.
“Investigation was also extended to the Fulani/Hausa communities and the indigenous communities who came, examined corpses and declared that the dead bodies were not members of their vigilance groups.
“The dead bodies had since been deposited at the Ibillo General Hospital Mortuary for preservation and forensic investigation.”
The Police appealed to the people to give out useful information that may lead to uncovering the causes of the young men’s death, and arrest of suspects.