Following controversy trailing the discovery of a building said to be a ritual shrine housing mummified corpses in Edo state, the police has given fresh insight after further investigation.

All Facts Newspaper had reported that the Edo state police command said it arrested three suspects, twenty corpses on August 17 after busting the building along Asoro slope, off Ekenhua Road, Uzebu quarters in Benin. READ HERE/WATCH VIDEO

However, arguments erupted with some persons claiming that the owner of the building moved in after he was evicted from an old location where he runs a mortuary.

Giving fresh update in a press conference on Monday, August 29, the officer in charge of the Criminal Investigative Department at the Edo state police Command, Olawore 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.”

 “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”.