The mutilated body of a missing 12-year-old boy, John Soyinka, has been found in a bush at Kotogbo community inside Asero Estate, Odeda Local Government Area of Abeokuta, the state capital of Ogun State.

Soyinka was declared missing a week ago after he left home to check on a customer who operated a Point Of Sales (PoS) shop.

He was reportedly assisting the customer with POS transactions, but he never returned home.

A source close to the family said that Soyinka lived with his mother, who worked odd jobs to support them.

“I know the boy very well; he is about 12 years old and he lived alone with his mother, who I guessed is no longer with her husband. His mother is into menial jobs like helping people to sweep and the rest,” the sources stated.

“The boy too was going to school, but I also usually see him at a business centre where they do POS operations and barbing; I think he must be assisting them there.

“What we heard was that last week Thursday, he said he wanted to check on a customer who did POS transactions; apparently, maybe there was something to sort out about the transaction, but the boy never came back.”

The community raised the alarm when Soyinka did not return home, and the police were notified. On Monday, Soyinka’s body was found in the bush near Kotogbo community, with his eyes removed and his wrists cut off.

According to the source, “it is suspected to be a case of ritual killing because the boy’s eyes were removed while his wrists were also cut off. It is an incident that has really thrown all the residents into mourning.”

The state police’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, however, confirmed the incident and described it as a “pathetic” case.

“The case is so pathetic that the DPO vigorously searched for this boy only to find his mutilated body inside the bush. The body has been released to the family for burial,” Odutola said.