By Comfort Asemota
The Edo State Police Command has taken into custody a mortuary attendant in Upper Sakponba, Ikpoba-Okha LGA, following allegations that vital organs were removed from a corpse at Akugbe Mortuary.
The incident reportedly sparked outrage among the deceased’s relatives, who raised the alarm upon discovering that some organs appeared to be missing when they arrived to collect the body for burial on Friday. Eyewitnesses said tensions escalated as family members accused the attendant of ritualistic organ harvesting.
Osaro Ivie, an onlooker, described the scene as chaotic, stating, “The relatives claimed that the chest cavity of the deceased had been emptied and stuffed with nylon.” Threats to lynch the attendant and set the mortuary on fire were reportedly averted only after police intervened.
ASP Eno Ikoedem, spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, confirmed that officers responded immediately after receiving a distress call about a mob attempting to attack the suspect. The mortuary attendant was safely rescued and taken into custody.
The suspect is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), where police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the allegations. Ikoedem assured the public that a thorough investigation would be conducted and urged residents to remain calm and allow due process to take its course.
