The Osun State Police Command has begun an investigation after the body of a resident of Ibokun, a community in Osun State, identified as Kehinde Ijebu, was found floating on Oyile River within the town on Wednesday.

Though the circumstances behind the discovery are yet to be ascertained, the body of Kehinde was found a day after he suddenly went missing on Tuesday.

When contacted on Thursday, the spokesperson of Osun Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Abiodun Ojelabi, said there was no mark of violence on the body of the deceased when it was retrieved.

He said, “The incident happened. There was no mark of violence on his body. The family approached us to say that they wanted to bury him, but we suggested an autopsy, which they objected to. They said they wanted to bury him. I can’t say how or where he was buried. Investigation is still ongoing into the matter.”

Speaking on the incident, a resident, who requested anonymity, said Kehinde had been exhibiting signs of depression lately, fueling the belief that he may have eventually committed suicide.

“He went missing on Tuesday, and we could not find him. But on Wednesday, some people alerted us of a floating body on Oyile River in Ibokun. Some residents and family members of the deceased went there, and he was found.

“The belief is that he drowned himself in the river due to a health challenge he had. His whereabouts were not known since Tuesday evening. Some people in the neighbourhood concluded he had disappeared as he used to do. His dead body was noticed floating on the river by passersby who notified us. The matter was reported to the police,” the resident said.

He said Kehinde was buried at the bank of the river around 11am on Wednesday, after some rites were performed.