What could have led to the sudden disappearance of the corpse of an engineer from an Anambra hospital where it was kept?
This the big question that the police there has waded in to answer after the family of Chukwunweike Okammelu, an engineer lodged a complaint.
His corpse allegedly disappeared from the mortuary of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, Anambra State, in a way they could not fathom.
The family’s lawyer, Joseph Offor, has now requested in a letter to the IG, with a copy sent to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja.
Offor said the matter was referred to the IG, who subsequently assigned the Intelligence Response Team to investigate.
He said although the investigation had been concluded and a report issued, his client identified material omissions, inconsistencies and gaps that undermined the completeness and credibility of the findings.
According to him, the report acknowledged possible criminal conspiracy and systemic failures but recommended the prosecution of only the mortician, Mr Clement Ogbonna.
Offor also alleged that the report identified administrative and operational negligence without adequately investigating all those who might bear criminal responsibility.
He said critical issues, including the chain of custody of the corpse, the roles of other suspects, institutional responsibility and the circumstances surrounding the disappearance, remained unresolved.
“Our client has accordingly prepared a detailed analysis identifying these gaps and respectfully demonstrating why he believes the investigation requires further review,” he said.
Offor urged the IG to order a supplementary investigation, with particular attention to the issues raised in the accompanying memorandum.
“Our client firmly believes that a thorough and comprehensive investigation will ensure that the truth is fully uncovered and that justice is done to all parties without fear or favour,” he added.
However, the Anambra State Police Command said it was not investigating the case, adding that the matter was before the investigating team in Abuja.
The command’s spokesman, Ikenganyia Anthony, said, “The command is not investigating any case like that. Everything concerning the case is before the investigating team in Abuja.”
The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Maureen Umeakuewulu, said the incident predated her assumption of office on March 13.
She said the case, which reportedly occurred in January, had been investigated by the police and moved between investigation units.
“To the best of my knowledge, it is with the police, and they are handling it. I don’t know specifically; maybe they are preparing to charge to court,” she said.
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The CMD, however, said she could not confirm whether the case had been charged to court, adding that she was not in a position to provide further details because the incident occurred before her tenure.
in the midst the question still awaiting answer is: How Did The Corpse Of An Engineer Disappear From Anambra Hospital?
Recent cases of missing corpses
August – October 2026: Amnesty International and a coalition of civil society rights groups raised alarms over hundreds of unidentified, skeletal bodies being moved in the middle of the night from mortuaries (including Ngor Okpala General Hospital and Mbieri General Hospital) to unknown locations.
Unclaimed Bodies Mass Clearances (Benue State – September 2026): Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi carried out a mass clearance and burial of unclaimed bodies and skeletal remains using heavy municipal dump trucks to address a severe mortuary overcrowding crisis.
Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) (Sagamu, Ogun State): A female corpse deposited in October 2022 went missing ahead of a scheduled January 2023 burial. When family members arrived, the body could not be located among 69 bodies presented for verification, and two mortuary attendants fled the premises
The Eagle reports that just yesterday, the Rivers State Police arrested five suspected kidnappers who allegedly used online dating sites to lure their victims. The police also rescued a 24-year-old woman who was kidnapped after travelling from Delta State to Port Harcourt to visit a friend.
Police accounts in the past have linked mutilation or missing corpses, disappearance of persons to upsurge in ritual activities around the country.
