BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Benin City, Edo, Nigeria – Investigators at the zone 5 police headquarters said they have traced the stolen corpse of an octogenarian landlord, Pa Anthony Edebiri to his only younger brother, in Benin City, more than two years after search for the stolen body began.
Police gave the identity of the suspect, Mr. Obakpolor Edebiri, younger brother to late Pa Anthony Edebiri.
The suspect is said to have admitted having been contracted to exhume and relocate his brother’s corpse to yet-to-be disclosed location.
He reportedly declined to give detailed information that would lead to the recovery of the stolen body.
Mr. Obakpolor Edebiri was also said to have vehemently refused to neither disclose the names of his sponsors, co-conspirators nor their motives during interrogation in the homicide section at the zonal headquarters in Benin City.
Police stated further that Mr. Obakpolor Edebiri claimed they all took oath of secrecy before the act as he would die if he confessed.
The Public Relations Officer, Zone 5 headquarters, in charge of Edo and Delta States police Command DSP Tijani Momoh stated this while giving update on the progress of ongoing investigation.
“The brother of the deceased one Mr. Obakpolor Edebiri actually admitted that he was contracted to exhume and removed the corpse of his brother, Anthony Edebiri.
“He said he took oath not to disclose where they took the corpse and that he would die if said anything about it.
“Mr. Obakpolor is an old man. He was granted bail after interrogation”, DSP Tijani Momoh said.
The Zonal police spokesman further explained that investigators had contacted a mortuary in Benin City where the stolen corpse is suspected to be deposited by the grave robbers.
“In their (mortuary authorities) reply, they said the name Pa Anthony Edebiri is not in their records.
“The mortuary also said anyone can come to check the corpses deposited with them for identification as the perpetrators may have lodged the body using a different name”, the police spokesman stated.
Attempts to obtain comments from Mr. Obakpolor Edebiri or his family, failed.
It would be recalled that Pa Anthony Edebiri’s corpse was exhumed and stolen few hours after it was interred his private residence in Benin City on January 10, 2021.
Operatives of the zone 5 police headquarters said recently intensified investigation into the illegal exhumation and stealing of an octogenarian corpse.
His corpse was reportedly exhumed and stolen by suspected grave robbers who invaded his private residence at 10, Mission road, Benin City, about 12 a.m on January 10, 2020.
Briefing our crime correspondent in his office in Benin City last week, the Public Relations Officer, Zone 5 Police Headquarters in charge of Delta and Edo States Command, DSP Tijani Momoh stated that men of the homicide section had commenced full scale investigation as directed by the Assistant Inspector-general of Police, AIG Arungwa Nwazue Udo, in the zone.
“On the receipt of a petition received from some children of the Late Pa Anthony Edebiri, the AIG, Zone 5, Benin City directed men of the homicide section of the Zone to immediately commence investigation.
“Two suspects Ekiuwa Igbe and Kingsley Osagie were invited and interrogated over conspiracy, unlawful exhumation and stealing of the corpse of Anthony Edebiri.
“They denied the allegations, investigation is ongoing”, DSP Tijani said.
The police spokesman further stated that the deceased led a polygamous life as one Edwin who lives abroad is said to be his only male child.
Our correspondent’s visit to the deceased’s residence on Mission Road last week revealed that many shops in the building opened for business.
Efforts to contact a man identified simply as “Chairman of the compound”, failed.
A source which claimed to be a relative of late Pa Edebiri Anthony told our correspondent that the deceased had 11 children from nine women.
“People were sleeping in the apartments upstairs when the grave robbers invaded the compound, tied up the watch night, vandalised the grave and whisked away the body.
“My brother, I commend the homicide men. I have confidence in the way investigation is going now, all parties have been interviewed and statements made, I hope they will soon find the stolen corpse”, the source said.
The incident replicated that of late Edobor Idahosa, 62 in April 22, 2017.
In late Edobor Idahosa’s incident, the grave robbers reportedly broke into his house at 20, Adun Street, Off Upper Siluko Road, Ogida Quarters, Benin City, while his bereaved family was away, vandalized the grave, exhumed and made away with the corpse 22 days after internment.
A notable custodian of African Traditional Religion has condemned the act saying graves are sacred grounds and should never be disturbed, unless in exceptional circumstances, as deliberate acts of destruction, theft or vandalism in places where people have been buried is not only prohibited by law but also considered a taboo in Benin tradition and most Africa communities.
He appealed to Edo State government and other relevant institutions to deal decisively with anyone or group found to have willfully desecrated grave.
