The body of missing 12-year-old John Soyinka was discovered on Monday at Kotogbo village within Asero Estate in Abeokuta, with some of his body parts missing.

Our correspondent learned on Wednesday that Soyinka was reported missing approximately a week ago at the Obantoko Police Station in Abeokuta.

According to a resident of the region who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the schoolboy went missing after attempting to check on a customer who had previously carried out a PoS transaction in a shop where the deceased frequently aided customers.

The source said, “I know the boy very well, he is about 12 years old and he lived  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 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 a PoS transaction, apparently may be there was something to sort out about the transaction but the boy never came back.

“The boy and his mother lived at Olasunkanmi community and so the Community Development Association reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer at Obantoko Station.

“The DPO informed the police at Adigbe and Lafenwa but it was the boy’s corpse that was found at Kotogbo community just beside Olasunkanmi on Monday. The two communities are inside Asero Estate, Abeokuta. It is suspected to be a case of ritual killing because the boy’s eyes were plucked while his wrists were also cut off. It’s an incident that has thrown residents into mourning.”

When approached for comment, the state police command's spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, said she would check and get back to our correspondent.