Farmer found hanging in Osun, police begin probe

A Benue-born man identified simply as Saviour, working as a farmhand in Orile-Owu, Osun State, has been found hanging, causing tension in the agrarian community.

Saviour’s lifeless body, according to sources in Orile-Owu who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, was found dangling from a tree in the Alagbede Area of the community on Thursday.

It was also learnt that the deceased had gone missing recently but was later found.

A resident of the community, simply identified as Kareem, told PUNCH in a telephone interview that Saviour was an easy-going person.

“The development is very shocking to us. I know him very well. He was an easy-going person. He was from Benue State.

“He came to Orile-Owu to serve as a labourer. He was missing recently but resurfaced a few days back. I was told there were plans to return him to Benue by the end of this year.

“It is very unfortunate that he died in such a manner. We just found his body dangling from a tree this morning. We already reported the matter to the police. Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps also came here to see the corpse and talk to people about it,” Kareem said.

When contacted, Osun State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident.

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Ojelabi said the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, had directed a thorough investigation into the incident.

“The incident was reported. The deceased was 20 years old. He was from Benue State. Operatives have visited the scene.

“The CP has directed the DPO in charge of the area to work on the matter. The case has been transferred to the SCID for probe too,” Ojelabi said.

PUNCH had earlier reported that a suspected cocoa thief, identified simply as Taofeek, reportedly died by suicide while in police detention in Agbeye, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State.

Taofeek, a resident of Agbeye, was said to have been arrested by local volunteers while allegedly in possession of stolen cocoa seeds.

Following his arrest, he was taken to the palace of the traditional ruler of the community before being handed over to the police at the Agbeye Police Post.