Grave Diggers Arrested Over Missing Human Parts

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

 
The arrest of grave diggers at a popular cemetery may have exposed what had been going on at various burial grounds in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the police on Friday arrested five suspected grave diggers over the disappearance of body parts of a corpse deposited at the mortuary for undisclosed purposes.

The incident happened at the mortuary known as St Raphael Divine Mercy Specialist Hospital, Ijede in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

The suspects Razaki Abesopiti, 50, Okeowo Kazeem, 46, Babatunde Giwa, 50, Ade Aliu 43 and Musiliu Yakubu, 56.

They were arrested and paraded by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, at the Police Command.
The police boss said it has been established that the suspects conspired and dismembered the body of a deceased by cutting off the two wrists and heart for yet to be determined reasons.
Edgal explained that the gang was exposed following report received by one Anthony Lawani, brother to a deceased, from one Mary Ehinlaiye, that the body of the deceased was sliced off by unidentified persons.
He said that he directed DCP at SCIID Panti Yaba to investigate the matter.
CP Edgal said that during investigation, it was discovered that the corpse was deposited at the mortuary for preservation and it was erroneously released to another family.
It was discovered that the corpse was released to another family when the real family came to carry the corpse for burial.
However, to recover the corpse already buried, the suspects were contacted at Sabo cemetery in Ikorodu to come and exhume the corpse from the grave for onward handover to the owners but thereafter it was discovered that some parts were missing.
He said the police arrested the suspects while one of them named Anifowoshe was said to be at large.
CP Edgal said the police were still investigating the matter and the suspects will be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.