Imo seals hotel, mortuary over suspected organ harvesting

The Imo State Government has sealed a hotel and a privately owned mortuary in Umuhu Autonomous Community, Ngor-Okpala, after security operatives uncovered decomposed and mutilated corpses in filthy conditions, sparking strong suspicions of illegal organ harvesting and links to kidnapping activities.

The operation, part of an intensified crackdown on violent crimes along the Owerri–Aba Expressway, was led by the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, in collaboration with community leaders and other security stakeholders.

According to a statement by the Police Command’s spokesperson, DSP Okoye Henry, the raid followed credible intelligence on the activities of a wanted suspect, Stanley Morocco Oparaugo.

Henry explained that investigators inspected a hotel and mortuary allegedly owned by Oparaugo and reportedly used by kidnappers and other criminal elements.

“At the mortuary, decomposed and mutilated corpses were discovered in unhygienic conditions, raising suspicions of illegal organ-harvesting activities,” he said.

Following the discoveries, the state government ordered the immediate sealing of both facilities.

“Police operatives also searched the suspect’s residence and recovered what authorities described as “crucial exhibits.”

The Commissioner of Police assured residents that all individuals connected to the alleged criminal network would be tracked and prosecuted.

He announced that Oparaugo had been declared wanted and urged anyone with useful information to contact the nearest police station.

He added that maximum security had been deployed along the Owerri–Aba Expressway to protect travellers during the holiday period.

Meanwhile, public outrage continues to grow over separate allegations of unlawful detentions, torture, and extrajudicial killings linked to the Imo Anti-Kidnapping Unit, known as the Tiger Base Unit.

Rights advocates and concerned Nigerians have called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission, and civil society groups to launch a full investigation.

This followed the case of Levi Opara, a 46-year-old businessman who died under suspicious circumstances in the unit’s custody.

Opara, from Emekuku in Owerri North LGA, was arrested on October 15, 2023, over a domestic dispute with his wife.

His family claims they made multiple attempts to secure his release, only to be informed three days later that he had died, with conflicting explanations surrounding the incident.