Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a mortuary attendant in the Upper Sakponba area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state over allegations that he removed vital organs from a corpse at Akugbe Mortuary.
It was gathered that development ignited a violent reaction from the deceased’s relatives as they raised the alarm when they arrived at the mortuary on Friday, 12 December, 2025 to collect the body for burial and allegedly discovered that some organs were missing.
An eyewitness, Osaro Ivie, described a chaotic scene, saying tempers flared after the relatives accused the attendant of ritual practices. “The relatives claimed that the chest cavity of the deceased had been emptied and stuffed with nylon,” he said. The crowd reportedly threatened to lynch the attendant and burn down the mortuary before police intervened.
Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the arrest of the suspect on Sunday,14 December, 2025 Police Public Relations Officer in Edo.
According to Ikoedem, officers received a distress call that a mob was about to attack the suspect. The mortuary attendant was rescued from the crowd and taken into custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the allegation.
The state police image- maker assured the public that a thorough investigation would be carried out and urged residents to remain calm and allow due process to take its course.
