Plans by the family of an 86-year-old deceased man to give him a befitting burial hit a snag as the mortuary could not produce the corpse when asked to do so.
Reports indicate that the corpse of late Pa Joel Omiran, who died a month ago, was deposited at the mortuary of Sacred Heart Hospital in Lantoro, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The old man had died at the private hospital where he was rushed to for treatment. His children were said to have kept their father’s body in the mortuary till burial arrangements were concluded.
It was gathered that the family checked back three weeks ago and confirmed that the body was still well-preserved in the morgue.
However, trouble started when the children visited the mortuary during the week to take delivery of the body of their late father, but the corpse was nowhere to be found.
Four persons have been arrested following the mysterious disappearance of the corpse.
A reliable source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity told Daily Post: “The children of Pa Omiran kept the body of their father in the mortuary a month ago.
“But, they were shocked when they visited the hospital this week after they called to inform them they will be taking away the body for burial. They cleared all necessary bills.
“[But] on getting to the hospital, they could not find the body. Every effort to get the body proved abortive.
“Two mortuary attendants, an auditor and a plumber have been arrested.”
Confirming the incident, Ogun State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the police authority is aware of the incident and that four persons have been arrested.
“We are aware of the incident. One 86-year-old man, Joel Omiran’s body was missing at the Sacred Heart Hospital mortuary.
“We have commenced an investigation. The State CID, Eleweran, has taken over the case.
“Four suspects have been held. Two mortuary attendants, one auditor and a plumber,” Oyeyemi stated.
Oyeyemi said the plumber was arrested because “we heard that a few days to the incident, he had helped the attendants to break the door to the mortuary when the keys to the doors were misplaced.”
The suspects were arrested on Thursday, he confirmed.
