Residents of Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were gripped by fear and shock on Saturday following the discovery of the decomposing body of an unidentified woman inside an abandoned, unfinished building.

The grim discovery was reportedly made after residents noticed a persistent foul odour emanating from the deserted structure. Concerned by the increasingly unbearable smell, some members of the community decided to inspect the building, where they stumbled upon the lifeless remains.

According to eyewitness accounts, the victim, believed to be a middle-aged woman, was found with her wrists and ankles bound. The body was already in an advanced state of decomposition, making immediate identification difficult.

Residents were further horrified to discover that the woman’s head was missing.

One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the scene as deeply disturbing.

“She had no head. Only the body was there, tied up and already decomposing. The smell coming from the building was overwhelming. We could not identify her because of the condition of the remains,” the resident said.

Community members suspect that the woman may have been killed several days before her body was discovered. The condition of the remains and the level of decomposition suggested that the crime may not have occurred recently.

Investigations at the scene reportedly revealed additional signs pointing to a violent attack. A blood-stained blanket was found within the building, raising suspicions that the victim may have been transported to the location after the incident.

Another resident, Ibrahim Dogo, said there were indications that the woman may have struggled with her attackers before her death.

“There were marks of injuries on parts of her body, and we noticed what appeared to be bloodstains around the room. From what we saw, it looked like there had been some form of struggle,” he said.

The shocking incident has heightened anxiety among residents, many of whom expressed concerns about the security situation in the area. Community members have called on security agencies to intensify surveillance and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

Following a distress call, officers from the Bwari Divisional Police Headquarters arrived at the scene and secured the area. The remains were subsequently evacuated and taken to Bwari General Hospital for examination and preservation.

Police authorities have commenced an investigation aimed at identifying the victim, determining the circumstances surrounding her death, and tracking down those responsible for the crime.

As of the time of filing this report, no arrests had been announced, while residents continue to await further updates from law enforcement authorities.

Police investigations are ongoing, and authorities have urged anyone with useful information that could assist in identifying the victim or uncovering the circumstances surrounding the incident to come forward.