
News
Mummified corpses: Edo police reveal details of investigation, indict principal suspect

The Edo State Police Command has said that the building where mummified bodies were found can not pass for a morgue, as the principal suspect, Gabriel Otu, has no approval to operate such, noting that a severed body at the facility showed there was more happening at the place than claimed.
At a press conference on Monday, the officer in charge of the Criminal Investigative Department at the Command, Olawore Oluwole, said in the course of the investigation, there was an interface with medical personnel, lawyers, members of the public, representatives of the Benin Traditional Council, families of those who deposited corpses, as well as a pathologist.
Oluwole said, “Following investigations by the command’s team and health personnel led by the commissioner for health, some documents were recovered portraying an approved location from the ministry of environment and sustainability.
However, the principal suspect, Gabriel Otu, later reported and made statements, and some other hospitals and mortuaries were equally visited and the following facts emerged.
“The principal suspect didn’t acquire formal training but only worked at different mortuaries as a mortuary attendant. He doesn’t have the certificate to practice as a mortician or any certification from the traditional board, ministry of health, ministry of environment, or any other appropriate certification.
“The building utilised by him was not certified nor approved by the ministry of health or environment. Other facts revealed is that the mortuary is not a layout for trado-medical institution.”
He added, “Twenty three corpses, as well as a dismembered without a skull, were found, and it depicts an unlawful possession and violates section 329 of the criminal code.
“There were also sacrilegious effigies found at the scene; some were inside while others were outside. These depict criminal elements in his possession and against section 213 of the criminal code. Some specimens were extracted and have been sent to experts for forensic analysis”.
Also speaking, the Edo State Commissioner for Health, Obehi Akoria, said the state government had given September 9 as the deadline for mortuary operators who are yet to obtain operational licenses to get approval from the ministry of health.
Akoria urged owners of registered mortuary homes to present their proof of registration to the state ministry of health by Friday, September 30.
She said, “The Edo State Ministry of Health is using this opportunity to reach out to all persons who own or operate mortuaries or embalmment homes to come to the ministry of health, directorate of regulation and monitoring, with evidence of due registration if they are duly registered latest by September 30.
“However, for those who are not duly registered, we are giving till the close of business on September 9 for them to present themselves to the ministry of health, where we will give them the basic requirements for the operation of mortuaries or embalmment homes in the state”.
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2027: Approach Peter Obi to return – Dan Ulasi tells PDP leadership


The former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman in Anambra State, Dan Ulasi, has suggested that the party should approach ex-Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi to return back to the party.
Obi was PDP presidential running mate in the 2019 election which the party lost to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
During the 2023 presidential election, the former Anambra State governor had dumped the PDP for LP.
Under LP, Obi ran for the Presidency as the party’s flag bearer but he came third behind the winner, President Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.
Lately there have been claims of disintegration within the PDP with former presidential running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC, and more governors are also said to be planning their defection from the party.
Prior to their defection, Atiku and Obi had formed a coalition with other opposition personalities with the aim of ousting Tinubu out of power in 2027.
The PDP Governors Forum, however, vowed that the party will never join Atiku’s coalition.
However, Ulasi said Obi is a better choice should the former ruling party decides to build and consider its future.
Featuring on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Ulasi said: “Peter Obi is a factor of progress. In the last presidential election, he had over six million votes so if there are no inordinate ambitious people in PDP who don’t want to be overshadowed or position alluded, Obi is somebody the party should openly approach.
“We are talking about leadership for better government of Nigeria and not better person for Nigeria, not better party for Nigeria.
“There are individuals who have the characteristics of performance, who have integrity and honour. And Obi is one of the very few in this country with such qualities.
“So, if the party decides to approach him and solicit my advice, I have enough contacts and relationship with Obi to convince him on why it’s necessary for us to come together to stop the menace that is going on in Abuja presently.
“It will be shameful for PDP governors – for reasons best known to them to dump the party for APC – I want to see them in a press conference telling what are their achievements after eight years as governors.”
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Akpabio leads Nigerian delegation to Pope Francis’ funeral


Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is heading a high-level Nigerian delegation to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, in Vatican City on Saturday.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday.
Tinubu sent the five-member delegation, which also includes the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji; Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama.
The statement added, “The delegation will formally deliver a letter conveying President Tinubu’s sympathy and condolences on Pope Francis’ passing to the Acting Head of the Vatican.
“On Monday, President Tinubu joined the Catholic faithful and Christians worldwide to mourn the death of Pope Francis, who he described as ‘a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.’”
Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, just a day after leading Easter Sunday celebrations at the Vatican.
Tinubu added that the Pope’s death, coming after the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, symbolises a sacred return to his Maker, offering renewed hope to Christians worldwide.
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Armed herders hijack buses, kidnap 19 passengers in Benue


No fewer than 19 passengers travelling in two commercial buses were abducted on Thursday morning by suspected armed herdsmen in Jor community, along the Adoka-Naka road in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.
The buses were ambushed in two separate but closely timed incidents along the same location, roughly three kilometres from Naka, the Gwer West LGA headquarters.
One of the vehicles was headed to Makurdi from Ankpa, Kogi State, while the other was travelling to Lokoja from Makurdi when they both ran into the ambush.
The Ter Tyoshin and chairman of the Gwer West Traditional Council, His Royal Highness Daniel Abomtse, confirmed the attacks.
“I was told that each vehicle had about 12 passengers on board. However, an elderly woman, a nursing mother with her two children, and one of the drivers were not taken,” he said.
These spared individuals reportedly alerted authorities at the Naka Police Station shortly after the incident. They have since been released by the police.
The Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, High Level Unit, Yakubu Onu, which oversees the main transport park operating on the route, also confirmed the abduction.
“The surviving passengers made their way to the police station and were later allowed to continue their journey,” he said.
“We are still awaiting updates from our members coming from Ankpa and have not heard from the kidnapped victims.”
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