EXCLUSIVE: Food Vendor Murdered, Private Part Mutilated In Benin

As the need for quick cash continues to trend in Nigeria, a middle-aged woman has paid the price.

Tafik Tawa left home on Saturday, 15 January 2022, but didn't return home, prompting the children to declare her missing.

Tawa, a food vendor, was murdered by suspected ritualists in a Sawmill at Osaretin Street, off Uwagboe street, in Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State.

Standard Gazette gathered that Tawa was last seen hawking cooked food during the day.

A search party was immediately arranged following the alarm raised by the children on Saturday, 15 January 2022.

Her lifeless body was found at the sawmill buried under sawdust during the search on Sunday 16 January.

When?Standard Gazette?crime Correspondent Festus Alenkhe visited the scene of the incident, the woman was found to be completely naked before sympathizers covered her.?

Standard Gazette noticed that her private part was mutilated; her undies and waist beads were spotted a few metres away, an indication that suspected ritualists attacked her.

One of Tawa's children, who broke down in tears, said, "I came back home around 7 pm and was waiting for my mother to return home, and she did not.?

"We waited till 10 pm and could not see her. We have to tell neighbours to help us find her. Someone later called to say they found her body covered up in a sawmill.?

"We had to call the police. It is sad that my mother would be killed in such a manner. Those who did it will never have peace".

Some residents called for an extensive police investigation to unravel those behind the dastardly act.?

According to a resident, Hon Irughe, "We woke up to meet this bad news in the area. We completely suspect ritual murder. The police should do their work".

As at press time, men of the Ugbowo Police Division of the Edo state police command were already on the ground to evacuate the body to the mortuary.

A police statement on the incident will be sourced in due course.