Authorities Investigate 5 Decomposed Bodies Found Near Abuja–Kaduna Highway 

Authorities in Niger State have launched an investigation after five decomposed male bodies were discovered along a desolate stretch of the Abuja–Kaduna highway near the FCT–Kaduna border.

The grim discovery was made near Garam in Tafa Local Government Area, prompting a rapid response from security personnel and local officials.

According to preliminary accounts, the corpses were all positioned face down, with their eyes tightly covered using black cloth.

The condition and placement of the bodies have led investigators to suspect that the victims were executed at another location before being transported and dumped along the roadside, far from residential clusters and patrol points.

Police personnel who arrived at the site recovered two spent AK-47 cartridges and a mobile phone believed to have belonged to one of the victims or the perpetrators.

These items have been taken in as evidence and are undergoing forensic examination. Officers also documented the scene extensively through photographs to support the ongoing identification process.

Because the remains were already in an advanced state of decay, local authorities opted for an immediate burial on-site to mitigate health hazards.

The Chairman of Tafa Local Government Area, Hon. Danladi T. Iyah, instructed the Social Welfare Department to oversee the interment. The burial was conducted in the presence of traditional leaders, including the Hakimi and the Village Head of Garam, ensuring the process complied with local customs and community protocols.

Security agencies are now working to trace the identities of the victims by cross-checking missing-person reports and analysing data retrieved from the recovered phone.

Forensic teams are also examining the shell casings and studying potential patterns linked to previous attacks along the corridor.

The Abuja–Kaduna route is notorious for criminal activity, including kidnappings and targeted killings, heightening concern among commuters and residents following this latest incident.

Community members have urged the government to increase surveillance, expand patrol coverage, and accelerate intelligence-driven policing to prevent future tragedies.

Officials are encouraging anyone with credible information — including recent abductions, suspicious vehicle movements, or relevant eyewitness accounts — to contact law-enforcement authorities.

The investigation remains active, and more details are expected to emerge as security operatives continue their work.