Three mortuary attendants are currently in police detention in Abia state after being accused of tampering with the body of a deceased man.
The alleged missing body parts include the man’s tongue and manhood.
According to reports, friends and family members of the deceased arrived at the mortuary, located between Afoukwu and Abayi Okoroato village along the Aba-Ikot Ekpene highway in Obingwa Local Government Area, to retrieve the body for burial.
While preparing the body, they conducted a random check and discovered that both the deceased’s tongue and testicle were missing, sparking outrage.
The shocking discovery triggered a violent response from the youths of the deceased’s community, who accompanied the family to the mortuary.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with the youths attacking the mortuary facility, damaging buildings, and vandalizing property.
The mortuary attendants, who allegedly tried to flee, were apprehended by the mob, beaten severely, and left with injuries.
Other youths also ransacked the facility, destroying everything in sight.
Police officers from the Eastern Ngwa Division in Umuobiakwa responded to the scene after the attendants had been beaten, rescuing them from further harm.
When questioned by the authorities, the mortuary attendants denied any knowledge of the missing body parts but speculated that rodents may have consumed them.
However, some residents were skeptical, pointing out that it seemed unlikely that rodents could have entered the deceased’s mouth to eat his tongue.
The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with many questioning the integrity of the mortuary and the possibility of foul play.
The severing of body parts is considered a severe taboo in Igbo culture, and some families who had deposited their loved ones at the morgue rushed to retrieve their bodies, fearing their loved ones’ remains could also be tampered with.
