OWERRI, Nigeria – Global human rights organisation Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to urgently clarify the circumstances surrounding hundreds of unidentified bodies reportedly being transferred from mortuaries across Imo State in south-eastern Nigeria.
The organisation raised alarm following video evidence depicting the nighttime transfer of numerous skeletal and decomposing human remains from facilities including Ngor Okpala General Hospital and Mbieri General Hospital to undisclosed locations.
Okay News reports that the rights group expressed concern that some of the deceased may have been victims of unlawful killings during past security operations and counter-insurgency raids in the region.
The Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, stated that the Imo State Government and federal security agencies must immediately account for all corpses and preserve vital forensic evidence.
“Imo State Government and relevant authorities must immediately account for all the bodies, establish their identities and causes of death, and explain when, where and how they came to be in the mortuaries and where they are now being taken. All bodies, mortuary records, medical records and other relevant evidence must be preserved to prevent interference with any investigation,” Sanusi said.
Sanusi added: “Allegations that some of the deceased may have been victims of unlawful killings during security operations in Imo State must be promptly, independently and impartially investigated.”
The watchdog emphasized that state authorities have a legal and human rights obligation under domestic and international law to conduct independent autopsies, identify victims, notify affected families, and initiate fair criminal prosecutions against any individuals found responsible for unlawful killings or evidence tampering.
“The families of those who died or disappeared have a right to know what happened to their loved ones. The authorities must act urgently to establish the truth, preserve evidence and ensure justice and accountability,” Sanusi concluded.
