The police in Edo State have arrested three male suspects and recovered 20 corpses while busting a ritual shrine located along Asoro slope, off Ekenhua Road, Uzebu quarters in Benin.
The arrest of the suspects was disclosed by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Jennifer Iwegbu, in a statement on Thursday.
According to Iwegbu, two out of the three suspects arrested, Chimaobi Okoewu and Oko Samuel were from Afikpo in Ebonyi State. The third suspect was identified as Gideon Sunday.
The deputy police spokesperson, said the 20 recovered corpses include “15 mummified male corpses, 3 mummified female corpses and 2 mummified children corpses.”
She said that operatives acted on information from members of the public. adding that the police is making efforts to apprehend other fleeing suspects in connection with the crime.
“Following credible information that some corpses were discovered in a building along Asoro slope off Ekenhua Road, Uzebu quarters, Benin city, Operatives of the command immediately mobilised to the scene,” the statement read.
“At the scene, three suspects, Chimaobi Okoewu ‘M’ and Oko Samuel ‘M’ both of Afikpo in Ebonyi and Gideon Sunday ‘M’ of Akwa-Ibom State were arrested while others fled. An intensive effort is ongoing to arrest the other fleeing suspects.
“15 mummified male corpses, 3 mummified female corpses and 2 mummified children corpses were discovered at the scene.”
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to carry out a discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the corpses found at the shrine.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
