Five Bodies Discovered Near Abuja, Riddled with Bullets — Victims Found Blindfolded and Executed

Residents of Garam, a community in Niger State bordering the Federal Capital Territory, have recounted how they stumbled upon five decomposing corpses in a bush close to the settlement.

The bodies were found near a farm situated along the Bwari/Abuja-Kaduna bypass, through the Kagarko axis.

According to the locals, all five victims had their faces tied and were riddled with bullet wounds across their chests and other parts of their bodies.

The youth secretary of the community, Tanko Dikko, told one of our correspondents on Sunday that the discovery was made after an elderly farmer perceived a foul odour while working on his beans farm.

Dikko, who took part in the mass burial, explained that as soon as the bodies were found, the community alerted authorities in Tafa Local Government Area. Officials from the council’s social welfare unit visited the scene before the burial took place.

He said, “Once the village head and the district head were informed, the police were contacted. They arrived with officials from the Welfare Unit of Tafa Local Government Area, and together with community leaders, the bodies were buried in a mass grave.”

He also noted that the deceased were dressed in English wear, with some found in only singlets.

During the burial, a flat Android phone was recovered from one of the bodies and handed over to the police.

Another resident from a nearby settlement, Isah Sumaila, narrated that on Tuesday night, some locals observed two vehicles passing through the area, with one carrying several occupants.

He said that near the first police checkpoint on the Bwari–Jere Road, the vehicles veered into a bush. Moments later, gunshots were heard.

He added, “After the gunshots stopped, the vehicles came out again and drove back toward Bwari. We don’t really know who they were.”

Three days later, a farmer from Garam discovered the corpses and reported the finding to the community leaders.

Sumaila recalled that last year, there had been allegations that security operatives from the FCT sometimes brought arrested suspected bandits to be executed around the area.

“But to be sincere, it has been a long time since we heard anything like that, and we can’t say exactly what occurred that Tuesday night,” he added.

Police Confirm Discovery, Launch Investigation

The Niger State Police Command said on Sunday that it had opened an investigation into the discovery of the five decomposed bodies near Garam in Tafa Local Government Area.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, stated:
“On November 22, 2025, at 10 am, information from Garam village in Tafa indicated that five decomposed bodies were found in a farm along the Bwari/Abuja-Kaduna bypass, through the Kagarko area.

“Police operatives from Tafa Division arrived at the location and found five male decomposed bodies with blindfolds, suspected to have been dumped by unknown persons.

“The bodies had gunshot wounds to the chest and also showed machete cuts. They were evacuated with support from the Tafa Local Government Social Welfare Unit. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend those responsible for the suspected culpable homicide.”

A source at the division also confirmed that the recovered phone found on one of the bodies is aiding the investigation.

(Text, excluding headline: Daily Trust)