The Rivers State Police Command has debunked claims that the abandoned Elele-Alimini General Hospital, belonging to the state government, is being used as a mortuary for kidnapped victims.
Recall that the chairman of Emohua local government area, Dr Chidi Lloyd, had intercepted the mortuary said to be used for kidnap victims who died in the custody of their abductors.
However, refuting the claims, the police said criminals did not use the abandoned hospital.
In a statement in Port Harcourt on Saturday, the acting spokesperson of the command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said an investigation revealed that the mortuary was being used by some contract staff members of the mortuary department of the hospital who were laid off by the government when the facility was closed.
According to her, “Preliminary investigation revealed that a mortuary actually exists in the premises of General Hospital Elele Alimini, owned by the state government, which has, however, been abandoned and now moribund following which the staff were all laid off over 10 years ago.
“However, some mortuary attendants decided to stay back to attend to the corpses that were in the morgue to avoid an epidemic outbreak.
“Mr Okachi Wali met at the premises is a casual staff of the mortuary who is still rendering his services. Suffice to say, the morgue is not being run by a kidnap syndicate as portrayed.
“The command, therefore, calls on the good people of the state to go about their lawful duties and report any suspicious development to the authorities.”
