Organ harvesting: Police investigate alleged mutilation of corpse in Edo mortuary

The Edo State Police Command says it has launched an intensive and far-reaching investigation into a disturbing allegation of unlawful tampering with a human corpse and the theft of human parts at Akugbe Mortuary in Benin City.

DAILY POST reports that the incident recently sparked public outrage and nearly culminated in mob violence.

Preliminary investigations revealed that one Marvelous Odeh and others had visited the mortuary to claim the corpse of the late Uyi Enogieru for burial.

However, upon completion of the required formalities, it was discovered that the corpse had been unlawfully interfered with and that some parts of the body were missing, prompting a report to the police.

In a statement, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said the command on December 12, 2025, received an urgent distress call indicating that a mortuary attendant was on the verge of being lynched by an irate crowd over allegations of organ harvesting.

According to the police spokesperson, acting with swift precision, the Divisional Police Officer of the Ugbekun Division immediately mobilised officers to the scene and rescued the mortuary attendant.

“The suspect has since been taken into custody and, on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for thorough, professional, and discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the statement said.