The Ogun State Police Command has arrested four people in connection with the disappearance of the body of Joel Omiran, 86, from the Sacred Heart Hospital Mortuary in Lantoro, Abeokuta, the state capital.
According to sources, the octogenarian died at the hospital a month ago after being rushed there for treatment.
On Saturday, a source said that the deceased’s body was kept at the mortuary by his family shortly after he died.
According to the source, the deceased’s children examined the body three weeks ago and discovered it to be in good condition.
The source explained that the children later notified the hospital management of their plan to take away the body for burial.
Trouble, however, started when the family got to the mortuary, having paid the requisite fees, but could not find the body.
“Every effort to get the body proved abortive,” the source added.
The four persons arrested were two mortuary attendants, an auditor and a plumber.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident.
Oyeyemi said, “Yes, we are aware that the body of an 86-year-old man, Joel Omiran, was missing in the Sacred Heart Hospital Mortuary, Abeokuta.
“We have commenced an investigation. The State CID, Eleweran, has taken over the case.
Four suspects have been held: two mortuary attendants, one auditor and a plumber.
“The police held the plumber because we heard that a few days to the incident, he helped the attendants to break the door to the mortuary when the keys to the doors were misplaced. We made the arrest on Thursday.”