Mortician arrested for using human remains in protest

​Police operatives from the Benue State Command have arrested a mortician identified as Amaobi, who manages a facility in Agwabi, Buruku Local Government Area. The arrest followed reports that Amaobi had been using a human leg from one of the corpses in his care as a walking stick.

​Local youths apprehended the suspect after he was seen in public with the remains. Following an interrogation, the youths presented him to a traditional ruler before handing him over to the police.

​Allegations of a desperate demonstration

​In a confessional video circulating on social media, Amaobi claimed his actions were a demonstration intended to attract official attention. He stated that he used the limb to highlight the presence of more than 18 abandoned corpses at his mortuary.

​According to the suspect, these individuals were reportedly killed during security operations in the area last year. Amaobi alleged that the authorities had failed to provide the necessary support or instructions for their burial.

​Community panic and police silence

​The incident, which occurred on Friday, April 17, caused significant panic within the Agwabi community as residents witnessed the suspect walking publicly with the remains. Amaobi maintained that he was seeking government intervention to evacuate the bodies of the suspected criminals.

​Efforts to obtain an official statement from Benue State Police Command spokesperson Udeme Edet were unsuccessful. The spokesperson did not answer phone calls or respond to messages at the time of publication.
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