Corpse reportedly disappears from Navy hospital mortuary in Delta

The corpse of a seventy-eight year old man has reportedly disappeared from the Nigerian Navy Hospital mortuary, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. 

Children of the deceased, Omokiniovo Ighorhiohwunu and Mr. Duke Ighorhiohwunu, reportedly deposited their father's corpse at the Navy hospital mortuary November 21,2024. 

Fresh Angle International, understands that a human right activist and son to deceased, Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, has petitioned the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Ekpan Division, CSP Aliyu Shaba over the matter on behalf of his family. 

In the petition, Comrade Aghogho maintained that his siblings, Mr. Duke Ighorhiohwunu and Mr. Omokiniovo Ighorhiohwunu deposited their father's corpse at the Navy hospital mortuary Effurun and duly signed for it.

"We are shocked and distressed by the sudden disappearance of our father's corpse and urge you to investigate this matter urgently."

Comrade Aghogho requested the DPO to take immediate actions to, "Investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of our father's corpse.

"Identify those responsible for the disappearance. Take necessary actions to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. 

"Assist us in locating our father's corpse and ensuring its safe return to us for proper burial."

Comrade Aghogho appealed that the Police should do all it can to ensure that justice is served in the matter. 

In a swift reaction, the Nigerian Navy Hospital, Effurun in a response letter with reference A; HCI/FR/32/2024 filed at the Registry of the High Court of Justice Isiokolo denied the allegations levelled against it. 

The Navy response letter signed by Lt Ogo on behalf of the Commander and referenced to the Delta State High Court, read thus: "I am directed to respond to your service of a court document listing this Hospital as the 10th respondent identified by Suit number at Reference A."

According to the Navy Hospital, "The said service was received on 17th February 2025. Following a review of our records, I am to respectfully inform you that there is no deceased person registered under the referenced in our facility.

"Please accept the assurance of the esteemed regards of the Commander."

The Nigerian Army, 3 Battalion, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area has taken up the matter as a human right activist(name withheld) petitioned the Battalion against Comrade Aghogho Ighorhiohwunu, who claimed that his father's corpse allegedly disappeared from the Nigerian Hospital mortuary. 

A female military Police Officer identified simply as Ruth John who in a telephone chat with Correspondent on Monday, February 24 night said the Army invited Aghogho over the matter following a petition before it. 

Part of the Army Officer's comments on telephone reads thus,"99% of Nigerian problems, Nigerian Army normally carry especially in Delta State. Half of the letters, petitions that they write including community matters. I do receive the letters when it comes. She said the Nigerian Army is even involved in it because the Police have failed to do their duties. 

She noted that the Nigerian Army entered the matter because "the brother in-law is a serving personnel. He serves in Ondo State. His sister received a call from her brother, Aghogho which I cannot quote that he is the one or not because he is the only one that can clear that this is not my voice because I don't know him. 

According to Ruth John, "The right office to call is the Military Police because, we deal with both civil and military. When we see that it's beyond our imagination, then we call the nearest Police Division to come and pick them for proper investigation. 

"Our own, we are going to follow up so that there will be no corruption. Who deserves justice should be given. Who deserves punishment should be given."

While noting that it's a family issue, the Army Officer said they can only appeal to both parties to have an understanding and sheath their swords because they're of the same parents(father&mother). 

When asked why the Nigerian Army entered into the matter that's not theirs, the female Army Officer, Ruth John said, "What touched the Navy, touch us. What touched the Air Force touch us.  You write a petition against Nigerian Hospital that they're with your father's corpse and they denied you of seeing your father's corpse. It's another interesting story. 

"We the military police, we can go to the Nigerian Navy Hospital with the deceased name, then meet the commander in charge of the mortuary that this person here claimed that the father is here in this mortuary and you denied him of seeing the father. What's the reason? Is it true or false?

"We can know how to identify the father. We can enter the mortuary and check if the father is there for further clarification. That's where we see the military came in because the Navy is being accused which we don't know. For now, it is an accusation."

Meanwhile, the Divisional Police Headquarters at Ovwian in Udu LGA has began investigation into the involvement of the Military personnel in the matter which is within the police   jurisdiction and seen as conduct unbecoming which may likely cause breach of peace.

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