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Crime Watch

4 Count Charge For Handlers Of 20 Mummified Bodies In Edo State

IN furtherance of the Command’s investigation on the discovery of a ritualist den with mummified corpses at a residence located along Asoro slope, Uzebu quarters, off Ekenhua road, Benin city, on 17/08/2022.

You would recall that the Command arraigned four suspects at the Edo State High Court on 30/08/2022 for Remand Proceedings pending the rendering of legal advice on the case from the Director of Public Prosecution(DPP) of the State. The four suspects arraigned are; Gabriel Chukwu Otum, Gideon Friday, Samuel Okon, and Chima Obi Okoewa.

On 27/09/2022, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the state, after careful study of the case file, availed the command the legal advice on the case and the following facts emerged;
(I) The offence of Conspiracy contrary to Sec 517
(II) Improperly or indecently interfering or offering indignity to dead human bodies contrary to Sec 242(1) (b)
(III) Being in possession of any human remain which is intended to be used in connection with or invocation of any juju contrary to Sec 329A
(IV) Vitiating the atmosphere with improperly kept human remains to make the environment noxious to the health of persons dwelling or carrying on business in that environment contrary to Sec 247 (a), all of the Criminal Code, CAP 48 Vol (II), laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976 as applicable in Edo State, have been found Prime Facie, to have been committed by the said persons.

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To this end, the Command warns strongly that those who still believe that these acts of gross obscenity are routine without Legal consequences to reconsider their stand as the Command will not hesitate to arrest, investigate and charge anyone under the above provisions of our laws to court so as to protect the larger community because as African’s, we respect and dignify our dead.

All Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and the Medical team of the Command have been directed to take necessary actions all over the State to ensure there is no further mismanagement of corpses under the guise of being morticians or mortuary delivery points.

The Commissioner of Police Edo State Command, CP Abutu Yaro fdc urges the good people of Edo state to continue to be law abiding, as the Command under his watch would continue to ensure their safety/ security. He further calls for more robust collaboration with the Command, with an assurance of swift actions/responses from the Command as complaints are made.

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