Residents of Asari-Toru Local Council in Rivers State are living in fear as suspected serial killers and organ harvesters allegedly roam the area, leaving a trail of death and mutilation.

Reports indicate that four cases have been recorded in the past month, sparking widespread panic.

The gruesome incidents include the murder of a young mentally ill woman, whose body was found with vital organs removed near a military checkpoint in the Tema community axis. Two teenage boys who went fishing in the Abalama community were also found dead in the creek with their bodies mutilated and organs missing.

Another mentally ill man reportedly escaped an attack by suspected organ harvesters.

An indigene of the area, Soibibo Sokari, who lamented the situation on social media, called on the police and security agencies to tackle the menace. He stated: “Serial killers and organ harvesters are roaming and killing people in Asari Toru Local Council, and nobody is saying anything. People are living in fear.

“Sometime last month, a young mentally ill lady was gruesomely murdered and her organs mutilated. It happened just a stone’s throw from the military checkpoint. The Sole Administrator, Police Divisional Police Officer, Department of State Services and Military Command have not given any updates on how the investigation into that serial killing has progressed. No one has been arrested.

“Fast forward to now, the ugly trend is rumoured to have continued in remote corners of the local council. The nights in Asari-Toru have become extremely dark. People are afraid now.”

Another indigene, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the case of the murdered mentally ill woman around the Tema community axis, and added that the lifeless bodies of two teenage boys who went fishing in Abalama community were discovered in the creek days after being declared missing, with mutilated bodies and vital organs carted away.

The fourth case, according to the source, involved another mentally ill man who was able to ward off the suspected organ harvesters and narrowly escaped.

However, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, denied any knowledge of such incidents happening in the area.