The Rivers State Police Command has described the claim by the Emohua Local Government council Chairman, Dr Chidi Lloyd that his team discovered an illegal mortuary at an abandoned hospital at Elele Alimini serving as depot for dead kidnapped victims as false.
Emohua LGA Chairman, Dr. Chidi Lloyd had on Thursday, informed journalists that he had discovered an Illegal Mortuary where rotten corpses of about 30 victims of suspected kidnappers were kept.
He added that the abandoned hospital was also serving as a hideout for kidnappers and as a camp for operators illegal artisanal refiners.
But while disputing the claim, Police in Rivers on Saturday said preliminary investigation revealed that a mortuary actually exists in the premises of General Hospital Elele Alimini, owned by the State Government, which has however been abandoned and now moribund following which the staff were all laid off over ten years ago.
DSP Grace Iringo-Koko, the Spokesperson for the command who said this in a statement however said the mortuary attendants decided to stay back to attend to the corpses that were in the morgue to avoid an epidemic outbreak.
According the Police “Mr Okachi Wali met at the premises is a casual staff of the mortuary who is still rendering his services.
“Suffice to say, the morgue is not being run by a kidnap syndicate as portrayed”.
The Command called on residents of the area to go about their lawful duties and report any suspicious development to the authorities.
But the Police failed to clarify in the statement if the corpses have been at the mortuary since the hospital was closed over 10 years ago.
Rivers Police Command Press Statement:
DISCOVERED EMOHUA MORTUARY NOT KIDNAPPED VICTIMS DEN – RIVERS POLICE
The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a viral video of a mortuary purportedly being run by a kidnap syndicate for the preservation of victims who died in their custody.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a mortuary actually exists in the premises of General Hospital Elele Alimini, owned by the State Government, which has however been abandoned and now moribund following which the staff were all laid off over ten years ago.
However, some mortuary attendants decided to stay back to attend to the corpses that were in the morgue to avoid an epidemic outbreak.
Mr. Okachi Wali met at the premises is a casual staff of the mortuary who is still rendering his services.
Suffice to say, the morgue is not being run by a kidnap syndicate as portrayed.
The Command therefore calls on the good people of the State to go about their lawful duties and report any suspicious development to the authorities.
DSP GRACE IRINGE-KOKO Ag. POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER RIVERS STATE POLICE COMMAND 29th January, 2022
Dear Distinguished Friend,
Kindly add SOJ WORLDWIDE ONLINE NEWS to your WhatsApp groups with this number 08023851511 for our news updates in Sports, Politics, Local, Foreign and Human Interest news.
We count on you for our success and survival.
Have a prosperous, joyful, peaceful and blessed 2022.
Adesoji Omosebi Editor-in-Chief SOJ WORLDWIDE…an ONLINE NEWS with a difference.
Leave a Reply