Chaos erupted at Akugbe Mortuary in the Upper Sakponba area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, after relatives of a deceased person allegedly discovered missing vital organs from the corpse, prompting the arrest of a mortuary attendant suspected of harvesting them.
The incident unfolded on Friday when family members arrived to retrieve the body for burial. Upon examination, they reportedly found the chest cavity emptied and stuffed with nylon bags, leading to accusations of ritualistic organ removal.
An eyewitness, Osaro Ivie, described the scene as highly volatile: "Tempers flared after family members accused the attendant of engaging in ritual practices. The relatives claimed that the chest cavity of the deceased had been emptied and stuffed with nylon."
Angry relatives and friends threatened to lynch the attendant and set the mortuary ablaze, but swift intervention by police operatives from Ugbekun Division prevented escalation.
Confirming the arrest on Sunday, Edo State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, the command's first female Public Relations Officer stated that officers responded to a distress call about an impending mob attack.
"The command received a distress call that someone at Akugbe Mortuary was about to be lynched, and the Divisional Police Officer, Ugbekun Division, was immediately mobilised to rescue a mortuary attendant alleged to have harvested organs of a corpse," Ikoedem said.
The suspect was rescued from the crowd and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further interrogation. Investigations are ongoing to uncover the facts surrounding the allegations.
Ikoedem assured the public of a thorough probe, urging calm and patience: "We urge residents to remain calm and allow due process to take its course."
The incident has heightened fears amid recent reports of suspected organ harvesting cases in Nigeria, though police emphasise that allegations remain under investigation.
No further details on the deceased or the suspect have been released as the probe continues.
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