A mortuary attendant in the Upper Sakponba area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, has been arrested following allegations of removing vital organs from a corpse at Akugbe Mortuary.
The discovery sparked outrage among relatives of the deceased, who reportedly threatened to lynch the attendant and set the mortuary on fire.
The situation escalated when family members, arriving on Friday to collect the body for burial, claimed that some organs were missing.
An eyewitness, Osaro Ivie, described the scene as chaotic. “The relatives claimed that the chest cavity of the deceased had been emptied and stuffed with nylon.”
“Tempers flared immediately, and the crowd was ready to take the law into their own hands,” Ivie said.
The Edo State Police Command intervened to restore order. Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, confirmed that a distress call alerted officers to a potential mob attack at the mortuary.
“The Divisional Police Officer of Ugbekun Division was promptly mobilised to rescue the mortuary attendant,” Ikoedem said.
The suspect was taken into custody and is now detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), where investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged organ removal. Ikoedem urged residents to remain calm and allow due process to unfold.
In a separate development, the Edo State Police had earlier arrested a 49-year-old man for allegedly killing his 15-year-old son and secretly burying the body within their family compound in Uhe Community, Igueben Local Government Area. The body was later exhumed for further investigation following information from the suspect’s mother.
Authorities assured the public that all incidents would be thoroughly investigated to ensure justice is served.
