Three missing siblings found dead in shallow graves

A week-long search for three missing siblings ended in horror this Thursday as their decomposing bodies were discovered in Odiguetue, a community in the Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The victims; Rosemary Efosa Igbinovia, Andrew-Arthur Igbinovia, and Dorothy Osarugwe Igbinovia were last seen on December 20, 2018, when they left home for their family farmland. 

After they failed to return, local hunters, vigilantes, and farmers launched an extensive search operation through the surrounding forests. 

The search reached a grim conclusion on December 27 when a farmer discovered three shallow graves. Community sources reported a chilling detail: the bodies were found with several vital organs missing. 

This discovery has sparked intense suspicion of ritual involvement and heightened the existing dread within the community. 

The killings have exacerbated an already volatile security climate in Odiguetue. The agrarian town has long been a flashpoint for violent clashes between local farmers and herdsmen, leading to frequent displacement and loss of life. 

“We can no longer go to our farms freely,” one resident stated under the condition of anonymity. 

“People are living in constant fear. This latest atrocity has made the situation unbearable,” the resident said.

The siblings had been the primary providers for their household since the death of their father, Mr. Sunday Igbinovia, in 1993. 

Their mother, Mrs. Rebecca Igbinovia, remains in fragile health and is currently residing outside the community. 

Family sources indicated that she has not yet been told of her children’s deaths, as her condition has deteriorated significantly in recent weeks. Mrs. Igbinovia’s health reportedly declined further after losing contact with her eldest son, Joe Igbinovia.

Joe had relocated to the United Kingdom with his ex-wife, Adesuwa Ediae, and has since severed all communication with his relatives.

The grieving mother currently relies on the charity of community members and local non-governmental organizations for her survival. 

The remains of the three siblings were recovered and buried amid an atmosphere of profound grief and mourning. 

While the community has issued an urgent plea to the Edo State Government and security agencies to intervene and restore order, official comments from the police were unavailable at the time of publication.