The decomposing body of a United States-based Etsako Prince, Eloniyo Dennis Abuda, was on Wednesday found by the police in a forest in Edo State, four days after he was abducted by criminals posing as herdsmen.

A team, led by the Commissioner of Police, Philip Ogbadu, found Abuda’s corpse – with deep injuries – days after his family paid N10 million ransom.

His abductors reportedly shot him dead reportedly after he slumped during the forced long march to the bush.

Abuda, President of Fugar America Foundation, and who was based in Atlanta, was abducted last Saturday with his wife and two other men – family members – along the Benin-Auchi Road end of the Benin Bypass.

He was said to be travelling from his hometown, Fugar, in Etsako Central Local Government Area (LGA) to Lagos to catch a flight to the US when their vehicle was stopped and they were seized by the kidnappers.

The other hostages, who were freed after the ransom was paid, led security officials to the scene.

A top police chief in Edo, who was part of Ogbadu’s team to the forest, confirmed the discovery via a WhatsApp message at 7:05 pm on Wednesday.

“We are now finally out of the deep forest of Edo State, where the decomposing body of the kidnapped and murdered USA-based Abuda was discovered and recovered. The body has been sent to the mortuary,” the officer said.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chidi Nwabuzor, also confirmed the incident, adding that the police were on a manhunt for the kidnappers.

Nwabuzor, a Superintendent, said the Police Command was on top of the security situation in the state, “thereby ensuring the safety of lives and property of residents in the 18 local government areas of Edo.

“The Commissioner of Police in Edo State personally led operatives to the kidnap scene this (yesterday) morning and they are still in the forest, on active combing of the bush.”

The kidnappers had demanded N20million to free him, but the family negotiated the ransom downwards to N10 million not knowing that he was already dead.

Abuda returned home in December to celebrate Christmas and New Year with his family.

A source said: “Abuda was shot by the kidnappers when he slumped and could no longer walk. The criminals did not want to leave him behind, being afraid that he would later reveal their hideout to security agencies, thereby shooting him dead.”

Another family source, however, painted a different picture and contradicted the police’s account.

The source said Abuda was found alive, but in a coma. He was later rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Benin, where a team of medical doctors battled to save his life, without success.

The Nation