SPECIAL REPORT BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Benin City, Nigeria – On August 17, 2022, residents were dazed by the bizarre police alleged discovery of 20 mummified corpses inside a new building at Asoro slope, Ekehuan road, Uzebu quarters, Benin City.
The strange finding was proudly announced by Edo State Police Command that its operatives had “bursted ritualist den.”
The news went viral within hours attracting divergence views and unprintable comments among residents especially the active social media users, and the Edo Civil Society Organizations which discounted the information and faulted police investigation.
It said the findings of its investigation were contrary to what the Police put out there in the public domain. The organization sought to correct the impression that the facility was a ritualist’s shrine or den.
Many in their comments applauded the security personnel for a job well done, some went further to recommend instant jungle justice for the perpetrators and the demolition of the building by the state government to serve as a deterrent.
In this special report our crime correspondent, Mike Osarogiagbon went beyond police statement to unearth some facts that present the incidence in a better perspective.
The discovered of 20 preserved corpses were those of 15 males, three females and two children.
Three suspects identified as Chimaobi Okoewu, Oko Samuel both from Afikpo in Ebonyi State and Gideon Sunday of Akwa-Ibom State were arrested by police during a siege, last Wednesday.
Police said the owner of the building, one Chukwu Otu is on the run.
The building is located few meters from a popular morgue along Asoro slope, Ekehuan road, Uzebu quarters, Benin City.
The Police and personnel of Edo Security Network cordoned off the premises after police led a team of journalists to the scene on August 18, 2022.
The Police Command in a statement by its Deputy Public Relations Officer ASP Jennifer Iwegbu late Wednesday night stated that its men have busted a ritualist’s den and discovered 20 mummified bodies in a building along Ekehuan road in Benin City.
She said the discovery followed a tip off as three suspects were arrested during police invasion of the property.
The Public Relations Officer for Edo State Police Command SP Chidi Nwabuzor said five shrines were discovered in the building, and that the building cannot be a morgue as speculated in some quarters.
SP Nwabuzor stated this while fielding questions from journalists shortly after a visit to the embattled building.
“The place cannot be a mortuary because the building is uncompleted as we speak. Secondly, there is no facilities to prove or ascertain that that place is a modern mortuary. A mortuary must have basic, modern facilities for us to call it a mortuary.
“Thirdly, there was no signpost, a mortuary should have a signpost telling members of the public, customers that they are opened for such business. These are signs to show that that place is not a mortuary.
“Lastly, we have shrine all over the place with fresh blood of animals all over the place, SP Nwabuzor said.
Some casket makers and sellers on the road to a private morgue before the embattled building told our reporter that the facility is a mortuary and not ritualist den.
“That place is a mortuary, he is a well-known as a strong mortuary attendant and traditionalist, I am just surprised how he brought his shrine to his morgue. He has four morgues in this town, he relocated from First East Circular to here, Ekewan Road, that place is a morgue, I know him, I feel this is a gang up against rising competition in funeral services in this area”, a casket seller maintained.
Our investigation revealed that the corpses were relocated to the new building from a morgue operated by the fleeing Mr. Chukwu Otu.
It was gathered that Mr. Chukwu Otu is a mortician and traditional worshipper who owns other morgues in Benin City.
Investigation further revealed that the mummified bodies were labelled for easy identification ahead of claim, in line with mortuary practice.
It was learnt that the owner Mr. Chukwu Otu acquired that parcel of land as he started erecting the embattled building recently. No fresh corpse was seen among the 20 mummified bodies.
Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nwabuzor had this to say to Alltimepost.com: “The suspects we arrested so far made confessions that the man we are looking for who is on the run Chukwu Otu is a mortician with a private hospital in Benin City. Yes, the bodies we saw were tagged as it is done in mortuaries.”
It was however a mild drama when a man who identified himself as Nappiar Osaro stormed the premises to claim the corpse of his late mother only to discover that the place had been labelled a ritual den and cordoned off by police.
According to him, his mother died in 2021 and her remains was deposited at the morgue.
He added that the morgue was as at then located at First East Circular before it was relocated to the present Asoro slope, Ekehuan road, Uzebu quarters, Benin City.
In response to a question, the Police PRO Nwabuzor futher stated: “Well, investigation is still ongoing, as the police were there with other security agencies, a certain man claimed that his biological mother is among the mummified corpses.
“When questions were asked, the man clarified that this man that is on the run Chukwu Otu who was somewhere before at First East Circular, Benin City, operating there, had his mother corpse deposited there.
“He went further to tell us that his mother died at a hospital somewhere at Uselu and he took his mother to Chukwu Otu.
“He said from that 2021 he had no money for the burial and that when he was now ready he went to where Chukwu Otu was before and somebody told him that he was no longer there.
“He said he was told to go to Asoro area in Ekehuan road, and when he got there he was asked to provide evidence and that is card. He was unable to produce the card, so they asked him to come on another day.
“And that day was today, August 18th, and that is why he went there. We now asked for the card he was asked to produce, and he produced the card, the card is with the police.”
Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has given the Edo State Police Command and other relevant authorities seven days ultimatum to unravel the true situation of the alleged discovery of ritualists’ den along Ekenwan Road axis of Benin City, the state capital.
This was disclosed today, during a press conference organized by the Edo State Government and the State Police Command, to provide an update on the latest development on the alleged ritual activities in the state.
