The mutilated body of an unidentified woman has been discovered near a stream inside the Jos Wildlife Park Forest Reserve in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The discovery was reportedly made at about 9:30am on Thursday following a distress report received by security operatives.
According to security sources cited by PUNCH, the woman had earlier been declared missing by her family after she failed to return home. Her relatives were said to have commenced a search for her, which eventually led them to the forest reserve where her body was found near a stream.
The circumstances surrounding the woman’s death remained unclear as of Friday morning, while security authorities were said to have commenced an investigation into the incident.
Sources said the deceased had injuries on her arm and face that appeared to be machete cuts. However, the exact cause of death and whether the injuries were sustained during an attack have not been officially established.
A staff member of the wildlife park, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the incident, confirmed that security personnel were alerted immediately after the body was discovered.
According to the staff member, the discovery prompted an immediate response from security operatives, who arrived at the scene and began an initial assessment.
“The security personnel came to the scene and commenced their initial assessment while efforts were made to establish what happened,” the staff member was quoted as saying.
The discovery has raised questions about the circumstances under which the woman entered the forest reserve and what happened to her before her body was found.
Security authorities are expected to establish the identity of the deceased, determine how she died and investigate whether any person or group was responsible for her death.
As of the time of filing the report, efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Plateau State Police Command spokesperson, Alabo Alfred, and other relevant security agencies were unsuccessful.
The lack of immediate official confirmation means details surrounding the incident remain subject to the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
The development comes amid broader security concerns in parts of Plateau State, where authorities and community stakeholders have continued to face challenges relating to the protection of residents and vulnerable locations.
For now, investigators are expected to rely on evidence gathered at the scene, information from the woman’s family and other witnesses, as well as forensic findings, to establish what led to her death.
Authorities are also expected to formally identify the deceased and communicate further information once the investigation has progressed.
Until such findings are released, the circumstances of the woman’s death remain under investigation.
