Missing Lagos banker Osemudiamen Idemudia found dead

What began as a desperate city-wide search has ended in sorrow, as the body of missing Lagos banker Osemudiamen Idemudia was discovered days after his unexplained disappearance.

Idemudia, who worked in the Point-of-Sale (POS) department of a commercial bank located in the Ikota area of Lagos, was last seen on the evening of May 9, near the CMS axis on Lagos Island. His sudden disappearance triggered alarm among friends and family, who launched an urgent search across the city, clinging to hope for his safe return.

Unfortunately, that hope was shattered on Sunday when his lifeless body was found in a morgue in the Yaba area of Lagos. The details surrounding his death remain unclear, and the discovery has plunged loved ones into grief and confusion.

A relative, identified as Segun, confirmed the tragic discovery, revealing that the family had visited several hospitals and mortuaries in a bid to locate him.

The relative said the deceased 26-year-old banker was found with deep machete cuts on his head, face, and legs.

He added that the discovery raised suspicions that he might have been murdered.

“We have found Osemudiamen’s body. He was murdered. We found the body on Sunday in a morgue at Yaba with machete cuts on his head, face, and legs. I’m so sad.”

Segun further stated that the police were said to have brought the corpse to the morgue.

He also added that efforts to get more details about how and where the body was recovered from were unsuccessful as the attendants could not provide the identities of the officers.

“The staff members of the morgue claimed that the body was brought in by the police but when we asked where they brought the body from, they could not provide an answer. They said they did not have details of the policemen who brought the corpse to their facility. That made the discovery more complicated.”

According to him, the remains had been buried by the family on Tuesday.

The father of the late banker, Julius, while narrating what transpired on the day his son went missing, told our correspondent that he left the office alongside a colleague for an appointment with a senior staff member at the bank’s headquarters in CMS, Lagos Island.

However, upon their arrival at CMS, the scheduled meeting was cancelled by the official.

The two colleagues then decided to head home.

He said that after parting ways with his colleague, Osemudiamen was neither seen nor heard from again.

He said, “Osemudiamen has been missing since Friday, May 9. He resumed at his office in Ikota that morning and later planned to go to the head office with a colleague after work for an appointment they had with a senior staff member. However, while they were on their way, the official called to say he wouldn’t be able to see them until Monday.

“When they eventually got to CMS, they parted ways. As usual, Osemudiamen was expected to board a bus to Iyana Ipaja, and from there, take another bus to Igando. But when it started getting late and we hadn’t heard from him, we became worried. After 24 hours of no contact, we raised the alarm. Since then, we haven’t heard from him. Our hearts are heavy with worry. This is so unlike him, and we are deeply concerned for his safety and well-being.”

Julius said the incident was reported at the Igando Police Station which is close to the Akesan area where Osemudiamen lived.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, could not be reached as calls made to his telephone line were not responded to. A text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.

(Punch)