Residents of Nadre Settlement in Vitogo, Lautoka were left in disbelief following the unsettling discovery of a partially decomposed body found near their homes on Saturday afternoon. The body, identified by police as belonging to an iTaukei man in his 40s, was located in a densely vegetated ditch along the Kings Highway, just a short distance from the Vitogo Police Post around 4 PM.
The grim finding was made by local resident Savenaca Seru, who stumbled upon the scene while returning from a nearby job. He had previously noticed a foul odor in the area, initially assuming it could be an animal carcass. However, upon a closer inspection prompted by a dog sniffing around, Mr. Seru uncovered a scene that he described as haunting.
“The first thing I saw were blue jeans. Then I saw an arm. That’s when I realized it was a person,” he recounted. After notifying two other men and returning to the site, they confirmed the presence of the body, leading Mr. Seru to promptly alert the police.
He estimated that the body may have been in the ditch for nearly a week, stating, “From what we saw, the body was covered in maggots, and we could not really tell if he had any injuries because of how badly decomposed it was.” Mr. Seru expressed sorrow that the man’s body was left in such a state.
In addition to the discovery of the body, police also recovered fragments believed to be from a vehicle. Authorities have yet to identify the deceased man as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding his death.
This tragic incident highlights the importance of community awareness and vigilance in ensuring the safety and well-being of local residents. As police further investigate, residents hope for answers that may bring some closure to this shocking event.
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