BY: SHALLON S. GONLOR
GBAO ZONTUO TOWN, NIMBA CO. —Human remains in Gbao Zontuo Town, Nimba County Electoral District #7, have been definitively identified as Elijah Webster Blaye who disappeared on September 2, 2024.
On Friday, October 11, 2024, a team of investigators including police, a medical examiner and the Nimba County Coroner’s Office confirmed that the remains belong to Elijah Webster Blaye, 27, who vanished after attending a peace talk with his girlfriend due to his reported stay away from her about four years ago.
Following the mysterious disappearance of Elijah Webster Blaye, 27, the communities of Gbao Zontuo and Troupoe in Nimba County District #7 were gripped by fear and uncertainty. Elijah’s mysterious disappearance until skeleton recovery lasted for one-month-nine-days the same being from September 2 to October 11, 2024.
However, a massive search operation involving the police, and local volunteers alarmed significant attention to the case. The arrest of Elijah’s mother and several relatives at the time only intensified the intrigue surrounding the disappearance.
The mystery had a profound impact on the community, particularly among farmers and students, who were apprehensive about leaving their homes. The lack of information since Elijah was last seen on September 2, 2024, led to a pervasive sense of fear up until his lifeless recovery on October 11, 2024.
The past one-month-nine-days in the Gbao Chiefdom were been marked by abnormal activities, isolation, quarantines, and restricted travel, contributing to feelings of loneliness, frustration, and depression among the locals. While others including mere visitors, and residents described as ‘highly traditional’ the chiefdom of Gbao.
During the period of the mysterious disappearance, police carried out extensive searches and inquiries in Gbao Zontuo and Troupoe Towns, however, no definitive information emerged to explain Elijah’s whereabouts.
In Troupoe, the investigative team spoke with Elijah’s aunt, Annie Blaye, who informed them that she had not seen him since May 2024. Additionally, the investigation faced another setback when Abraham B. Gbah, who had promised to assist voluntarily, fell ill and was later pronounced dead at a nearby clinic.
Meanwhile, the police’s latest report on early Friday, 11 October 2024, revealed that bones found in the middle of Weh River situated along the highway of Gbao Zontuo and Troupoe Towns about three (3) minutes’ walk from the main road were been identified as Elijah Webster Blaye who went missing.
The Superintendent of the Crime Services Department of the Nimba County Police, Emmanuel W. Gruesia reports, confirming that its office has identified the remains found in the river as those belonging to Elijah Webster Blaye who was last seen wearing long blue track trousers designed with two lines of white, script buster and a blue and black colors round neck T-shirt.
Gruesia said “The joint investigation team relative to the suspicious disappearance of Elijah Webster Blaye since the 2nd of September 2024, the team again responded to the scene on October 11, 2024 @ 1240hrs that, the said body of the missing man (Elijah Webster Blaye) was found in the middle of the WEH–RIVER situated along the Highway of Gbao Zontuo and Troupoe Towns about three (3) minutes walk from the mean road to the scene. The remains were found on the pieces of reeves wearing long blue track trousers designed with two lines of white, script booster, and a blue and black colors round neck T-SHIRT”.
The CSD Superintendent shared in a statement that the latest findings “bring us one step closer to providing closure to the family of Elijah Webster Blaye who have waited many days for answers that have been affected by this tragic case.” “This is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of our detectives and forensic experts. It’s a reminder that no case is ever truly closed no matter how much time has passed,” he added.
The police preliminary investigation disclosed that following the medical examination conducted on the remains by Registered Nurse, Fester Lah, with license number 15767, the OIC of Gbao Troupoe Clinic pronounced Elijah’s death upon pulling from the river.
A further examination conducted by a 15-man coroner jury headed by Lemuel W. Blemie reported no foul play, attributing the death of Elijah Webster Blaye to drowning, according to the police investigators’ boss. He contended that the skeleton of the deceased was immediately turned over to the deceased’s family members for burial.
The CSD Superintendent of police stated “Meanwhile, three divers as follow: Justin Dolo, Ericson P. Karnue and Otis Bartoe voluntarily brought on shore the remains ( skeleton) of the missing man supra mentioned. Having brought on shore same, a medical examination was done by RN Fester Lah, with licesen#: 15767, the OIC of Gbao Tropoe clinic during which time, he was pronounced dead at 1358hrs the same day. Hereafter, (15) male coroner jurors were established by Lemuel W. Blemie whose report says, “ELIJAH BLAYE died as a result of natural drowning” with a copy of their report here attached. Henceforth, the family of the deceased received said remains for due processing”.
The forensic anthropologist who initially examined the remains found no signs of trauma, leaving the cause of death undetermined. Although the investigation continues, no foul play is currently suspected, Superintendent Emmanuel W. Gruesia of the Nimba County Police Department confirmed.
