An illegal mortuary at Elele-Alimini General Hospital, where kidnap victims who died in the custody of their abductors are usually deposited, has been uncovered by the Chairman of Emohua local government area of Rivers State, Chidi Lloyd.
In a statement issued, yesterday, by his media aide, Bright Jossy-Elendu; Llody, who acted on a tip-off on criminal activities along old Ahoada road in Elele-Alimini, accompanied by a combined team of security personnel and the local government task force on bunkering activities had stormed Elele-Alimini General Hospital and also uncovered a depot operated by illegal petroleum refiners inside the hospital.
Disappointed with the level of environmental degradation caused by the illegal oil bunkering activities on the large expanse of the hospital, the council chairman ordered for immediate investigation and prosecution of the arrested suspects to establish the ownership of the oil bunkering sites.
He, however, expressed worries over the complicit silence of the leadership of the community, adding that such evil could not be going on without the collaboration of some stakeholders.
It reads in parts: “The council chairman intercepted an illegal mortuary where kidnap victims who died in the custody of their abductors are usually deposited inside Elele-Alimini general hospital.
“He wondered why the leadership of Elele-Alimini allowed such atrocious business in the community, stressing that such evil activity cannot be going on without the involvement of some stakeholders in the community.
“Irked by the number of already decaying corpses deposited inside a particular building in the hospital, the council chairman ordered the security personnel to search the entire hospital, during which the syndicate and illegal occupant of the hospital were apprehended in their hideout.
“The council chairman and his team have effected the arrest of two drivers who were caught transporting illegally refined petroleum products at Rumuekpe junction along the East-West road,” he said.