Headless body dumped in front of a store in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police found a headless body, identified to be that of a jobless 20-year-old man, near a commercial building in Lamitan City, Basilan province.

Chief Insp. Alexi Desamito, chief of the Lamitan City Police Station, said the body of Walid Najer, around 20 years old, was dumped on Paticul Street in front of a store in Barangay Matatag at around 3:15 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8.

Senior Supt. Nickson Muksan, chief of the Basilan Police Provincial Office, said police received a report of a hacking incident near where the body was found.

Desamito said they were trying to find out the possible motives for the killing.

The last reported beheading in Basilan happened in 2001 in Barangay Balobo, where more than 30 people were kidnapped. The women and children were freed, but 10 men were beheaded. –Julie Alipala /atm