By Oluwatosin Babatunde
Residents of the Olorunsogo area of Ilorin were thrown into confusion early Wednesday after the body of an unidentified man was found lying in the middle of the road.
SBS FM reporter Oluwatosin Babatunde, who arrived at the scene shortly after the discovery, observed the corpse lying unattended with no immediate indication of what caused the man’s death. Passers-by kept their distance, watching anxiously as the situation developed.
An official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was seen at the location, directing vehicles around the body to prevent it from being crushed by oncoming traffic. The officer, who appeared to be acting alone at the time, struggled to control the growing crowd of curious residents.
Further checks by SBS FM confirmed that men of the Adewole Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force later arrived to evacuate the body, a development that brought some relief to residents who feared the corpse might remain on the roadway for hours.
But the discovery has unsettled many in the community. Several residents who spoke to SBS FM described the incident as shocking and unusual for the area, expressing fears that the death may have resulted from foul play, a hit-and-run incident, or other unknown circumstances.
They called on security agencies to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to uncover the cause of death. The residents also appealed for increased patrols to prevent similar occurrences and enhance safety for commuters and pedestrians.
As of the time of filing this report, the identity of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding his death remain unknown. Police investigations are expected to begin immediately.
