Missing baby’s corpse: Mortuary attendants in police net

By Jubril Bada
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Detectives are still searching for the corpse of a one day old baby who disappeared at the Ondo State Specialist Hospital mortuary, Akure.

Already, two mortuary attendants have been arrested by the police to help them unravel the puzzle.

The baby’s corpse could not be found when his agitated father and some relations came to the morgue to collect its corpse and the dead mother for burial.

They reportedly caused a stir at the mortuary premises when they discovered the baby’s corpse had disappeared, forcing the police to wade into the matter.

The disappearance later triggered a man- hunt for the one day old baby.

It was gathered that the baby’s dead mother had an unsuccessful caesarean operation at the Police hospital.

How the baby’s corpse disappeared remains a mystery to crime watchers yesterday.

The Police Public Relations Officers, Mr Femi Joseph, confirmed that two mortuary attendants are with the police.

Speaking with journalists at the State Hospital, the bereaved husband and father of the baby, Owonidaun affirmed the deposit of the corpses and the placenta at the hospital mortuary, stressing that a document was filled and signed by the doctor who certified them dead for entry into the mortuary.

He said, “The corpses of my dead wife and the baby with placenta were brought from the police clinic, Akure to the State Hospital mortuary after she died during labour.

“But it was a surprise as the mortuary attendant prevented us from checking the corpses in the casket we brought before taking them for burial.

The mortuary attendant created fear that if we should open the casket by ourselves, we would face the repercussion for opening it.

“After much pressure from the family members, the casket was opened and the corpse of my new born baby was found missing

“Only my wife’s corpse, my baby’s placenta, the nylon and other materials used to wrap my baby’s lifeless body by doctors at the police clinic were found in the casket..

It was learnt that the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahaab Adegbenro, had visited the State Specialist Hospital, where he inspected the signed document by the hospital for the deposit of the corpses and the placenta.

All efforts to speak with the Chief Medical Director of the hospital Dr Akintan proved abortive as he declined interview.

Meanwhile, two mortuary attendants, whose names were yet to be known, has been arrested by the police at the ‘B’ Division’ Akure for investigation