By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
There was tension in the New Layout area of Lokoja as police evacuated the body of an unidentified man found dumped in the compound of an uncompleted building alleged to be used as a brothel.
NationalWatch TV gathered that the incident, which occurred about five days ago, threw residents into confusion and fear, as the decomposing body emitted a strong odour that attracted public attention.
According to eyewitness accounts, the building was being occupied by a group of young ladies who allegedly used it to harbour men for commercial purposes.
Trouble reportedly began when one of their male customers died inside one of the rooms under mysterious circumstances.
The ladies were said to have hurriedly carried his lifeless body and dumped it in the compound before fleeing the area.
Residents told NationalWatch TV that all the ladies who lived in the compound took to their heels immediately after discovering the man’s death, abandoning their personal belongings in the process.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “We started perceiving a foul smell around the building for days. When people went closer, they saw a dead man lying in the compound. The girls who used to live there disappeared overnight. Nobody has seen them since then.”
Another resident, identified as Mrs. Grace, expressed concern over the increasing rate of moral decadence in the area.
She said the building had become a source of concern to neighbours because of the suspicious movements of men, especially at night.
“We have been complaining about that building for a long time. Strange men come in and out at all hours, but no one paid attention until this sad incident happened,” she said.
Police operatives from the ‘A’ Division in Lokoja reportedly arrived at the scene after receiving a report from concerned residents.
The body was evacuated and deposited at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) morgue for autopsy and further investigation.
Meanwhile, residents of the area have called on the police to investigate the younger brother of the owner of the building, who was alleged to have rented out the rooms to the ladies.
A resident said: “We know the brother of the landlord who gave those girls the rooms. He should be invited by the police to explain who the tenants were and what they were doing there. He can’t pretend not to know what was going on.”
Community leaders in New Layout have also urged security agencies to intensify patrols around the area to prevent such illegal activities from recurring.
When contacted, a police source confirmed the incident, saying investigation had already commenced to uncover the circumstances surrounding the man’s death and to track down the fleeing suspects.
The source assured that no stone would be left unturned in unraveling the truth behind the incident and bringing all those involved to justice.
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