The grief of a family in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, has taken a disturbing turn after the body of their late grandmother reportedly vanished from a mortuary where it had been deposited ahead of her burial.
The family, who arrived at the facility on Saturday to retrieve the remains of their loved one for final funeral rites, were left shocked when they allegedly discovered that the body could not be found. According to accounts from relatives, mortuary attendants were unable to produce the deceased’s corpse and instead allegedly presented a different body.
The development reportedly sparked tension at the facility, as family members demanded answers regarding the whereabouts of the missing remains. Witnesses claimed that one of the mortuary attendants fled the scene amid the confusion, further fueling suspicions surrounding the incident.
Police officers were said to have intervened to prevent the situation from escalating, while efforts were initiated to determine what happened to the missing body. As of the time of filing this report, the exact circumstances surrounding the disappearance remain unclear.
The incident has generated widespread concern among residents and social media users, many of whom have called for a thorough investigation into the matter. Several commentators have questioned the record-keeping and security measures at mortuaries, particularly in rural communities where such incidents have occasionally been reported.
This latest case has also revived memories of a similar incident that occurred in 2021 at a hospital morgue in the Afikpo area, where a family reportedly discovered that a relative’s body had disappeared on the day it was scheduled for burial. The recurrence of such incidents has heightened calls for improved documentation systems, stricter oversight, and enhanced security protocols in mortuaries across the state.
Family members are now appealing to authorities to uncover the truth and ensure accountability, while they continue to search for answers over the mysterious disappearance of their grandmother’s remains.
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The Ebonyi State Police Command has yet to release an official statement on the incident, but concerned residents are urging relevant authorities to conduct a transparent investigation to restore public confidence in mortuary management practices.
