Delta family, hospital disagree as father’s corpse disappears from mortuary
Tension has gripped a family in Delta State as the corpse of their 78-year-old father allegedly disappeared from the mortuary of the Nigerian Navy Hospital, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
A human rights activist, Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, who is also one of the deceased’s children, petitioned the Divisional Police Officer, Ekpan, CSP Aliyu Shaba, over the matter, on behalf of the family.
PUNCH Metro gathered on Tuesday that two children of the deceased, Mr. Omokiniovo Ighorhiohwunu and Mr. Duke Ighorhiohwunu, had on November 21, 2024, deposited their father’s corpse at the Navy hospital mortuary.
Aghogho, in his petition to the police, maintained that his siblings deposited their father’s corpse at the mortuary and duly signed for it.
“We are shocked and distressed by the sudden disappearance of our father’s corpse and urge you (the police) to investigate this matter urgently,” Aghogho stated in the petition.
The rights activist requested the DPO to, among others, take immediate actions to “investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of our father’s corpse.
“Identify those responsible for the disappearance. Take necessary actions to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“Assist us in locating our father’s corpse and ensuring its safe return to us for proper burial.”
Aghogho further appealed to the police to do all they could “to ensure that justice is served in the matter.”
However, the management of the Nigerian Navy Hospital, Effurun, in a response letter with reference, A: HCI/FR/32/2024, filed at the Registry of the High Court of Justice Isiokolo, denied the allegations levelled against it.
The letter signed by Lt. Ogo, on behalf of the commander, and referenced to the Delta State High Court reads, “I am directed to respond to your service of a court document listing this hospital as the 10th respondent identified by suit number at Reference A.”
According to the hospital, “The said service was received on February 17, 2025.
“Following a review of our records, I am to respectfully inform you that there is no deceased person registered under the referenced in our facility.
“Please accept the assurance of the esteemed regards of the Commander.”
Also, the Nigerian Army, 3 Battalion, Effurun in Uvwie LGA has reportedly taken up the matter as a human rights activist (name withheld) was said to have petitioned the Battalion against Ighorhiohwunu, who earlier claimed that his father’s corpse disappeared from the Nigerian Hospital mortuary.
A female military police officer identified simply as Ruth John told our correspondent in a telephone chat on Monday night that “The Army has already invited Aghogho over the matter following a petition before it.”
But the Divisional Police Headquarters at Ovwian in Udu LGA said they had also reportedly commenced an investigation into the alleged involvement of the military personnel in the matter said to be within the police jurisdiction.
