By Adedotun Aderoboye, Ondo

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Bagbe, an agrarian community in Ondo West local government area of Ondo state was thrown into pandemonium on Sunday, following the discovery of the lifeless body of a 17-year-old boy, hanging on a tree in the community.

The incident has left the entire community in a state of shock as people continue to seek answers to what could have led to such dastardly act.

The deceased, Elijah Akinrinlola was said to be residing with his father, Mr. Tope Akinrinlola, along College road, Bagbe, before an unfortunate sequence of events reportedly led to his sudden disappearance and death.

According to eyewitnesses who spoke with our correspondent, the circumstances surrounding the sudden disappearance of the deceased and how he was later found hanging on a tree in the community remained unclear to the people.

A witness who identified herself as Helen described the incident as a rude shock to the entire community.

Her words, “The first day he did not come home to sleep, his family thought it was just what he normally did and were not worried. Then, they began to search for him when they did not see nor heard from him the following day.

“He was later found hanging on a tree with a rope around his neck after missing for like five days. The place he was found is close to their street.”

Another witness who identified himself as Samuel described the incident as a mystery.

He said, “What I heard is that he disappeared from his father’s house for maybe five days. His father searched for him everywhere, but he did not see him. Nobody saw him until someone who was going to pick snails in the farm at night found his lifeless body hanging on the tree.

“They don’t know what could have led to this. I think he was a carpentry apprentice sometime ago. I don’t know if he was through with learning before this happened. He was a very lively person. He loved playing with people and having fun. He was someone who was not worried named about issues. So, this is shocking to me.”

They added that the police has since waded into the matter and investigations ongoing to ascertain what truly led to the disappearance and the lifeless body of the boy hanging on a tree days later.

All efforts to speak with his relatives proved abortive as they were still mourning the  loss that suddenly befell their household.