BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Benin City, Nigeria – Chukwu Otu, the owner of the building where 20 mummified bodies were recently discovered in Benin City, has turned himself in to the police in the state capital.
Our investigation revealed that Mr. Chukwu Otu voluntarily surrendered himself at the state police command headquarters in Benin City about 3:pm on Monday, August 22, 2022, accompanied by his lawyer.
The suspect who wore a black T-shirt on arrival, was immediately led to the commissioner of police office and back to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), where he gave his statement.
He was still with the police when our reporter left the state police command headquarters, Benin City about 6:23pm on Tuesday, August 23, 2022.
The Public Relations Officer for Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor said he was aware that Mr. Chukwu Otu has turned himself in at the command headquarters, Benin City.
The presence of the suspect at the police station has finally foreclosed earlier reports that he is on the run.
Meanwhile, five suspects earlier arrested when police stormed the building are yet to be let off the hook.
Our correspondent however gathered that a team of Edo State Government pathologists, led by the state commissioner for health Prof. Obehi Akoria, visited the embattled facility, last Saturday.
It was learnt that one by one, pathological checks and documentation were conducted on the mummified bodies.
The team was said to have recorded 24 corpses against 20 earlier announced.
It was further scooped that some of the mummified bodies dated back 2014 as none had a recent date on their tags.
Sources hinted that the state government may take custody of the mummified bodies on completion of the ongoing investigation.
It explained that government may go further to issue a public notice requesting depositors of the bodies to claim them, thereafter, the unclaimed ones will face mass burial.
It would be recalled that the Edo State Police Command had, on Wednesday, August 17, 2022 announced that its operatives busted a “ritualist’s den” where 20 mummified bodies were discovered at Asoro slope, Ekehuan road, Uzebu quarters, Benin City.
The police announcement went viral on social media sparking off controversies as to whether the facility is a ritualist’s den or a morgue.
The police had insisted that the “building cannot be a mortuary” as it lacks all facilities of a modern mortuary.
As the controversies heated up among residents, the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, on Friday, August 19, 2022, gave the police seven days ultimatum to unravel the true situation.
The Governor’s directive triggered synergy between concerned agencies towards ascertaining the true position before the ultimatum elapses.
