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Police Dump Corpses In Mortuary; Extra-Judicial Killings Suspected
December 08, 2009 17:35, 1,049 views
A hospital in Nigeria has told the BBC it is overwhelmed by the number of corpses being brought to them by the police.
The Chief Medical Director at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu says his staff are being forced to carry out mass burials.
He says that another mass burial is planned to take place soon.
Nigeria’s police have faced strong criticism from human rights group for carrying out extrajudcial and arbitrary killings.
The BBC has visited the morgue and taken photographs. The images are disturbing.
They show piles of young men, lying on top of one another and strewn about on tables and floors.
In places the corpses are stacked four or five deep.
Records show 75 corpses were delivered to the morgue by police between June and 26 November this year.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Anthony Mbah, says his staff were forced to carry out a mass burial of between 70 and 80 bodies some weeks ago.
The BBC has established at least seven people were last seen alive in police custody.
They were arrested, accused of kidnapping, and paraded alive in the media in early September.But their names appear in the morgue register - on 15 and 16 of September.
The Police Commissioner in Enugu State, Mohamed Zarewa, todl the BBC he was unaware of the number of young men lying dead in the morgue.
He says his officers are forced to engage armed robbers in gunfights and that many police officers are also killed.
He insists that his police force operate within the law.
When asked about the seven men who disappeared in police custody, he told the BBC he was too busy to talk about it.
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Brown Nnamdi
8 December 2009 17:48I guess saying “he was too busy to talk about it” would just beabout the best explanation both the bereaved familes and the whole world will hear of the seven. When will Nigerian start to take human lives serious? Would Mohammed Zarewa be satisfied with inhuman response should this happen to his family member? Believe me he won’t take it lying should this happen anywhere in the north. Hmmmm, when shall we realise that Nigeria is not a country????
Brown Nnamdi
8 December 2009 17:49I guess saying “he was too busy to talk about it” would just be about the best explanation both the bereaved familes and the whole world will hear of the seven. When will Nigerian start to take human lives serious? Would Mohammed Zarewa be satisfied with inhuman response should this happen to his family member? Believe me he won’t take it lying should this happen anywhere in the north. Hmmmm, when shall we realise that Nigeria is not a country????
bash kadiri
8 December 2009 18:20so unfortunate of a nation that people of less privileges would be executed because they dont have top politicians who will defend them in the hands of our unfortunate policemen.its a shame that our policemen take laws now in their hands.may almighty god help us to delivere us from their callousness;amen.
IYKE CHYKE
8 December 2009 18:22That is their stock in trade. The protectors are now the tormentors. Hope madam rebranding will compell BBC to tell the world that the pictures were frame up by enemies of the government.
ganiyu sanni
8 December 2009 18:49Unfortunately this is the story of Nigeria where life is worthless. Nobody should pretend we do not know this has been going on since the days of Obasanjo kill & go order to the police in 1978. So we do not need a BBC to tell us what we already know. We are our own worst enemies
ganiyu sanni
8 December 2009 18:49This story is being presented as though we are not part of this malaise. Unfortunately this is the story of Nigeria where life is worthless. Nobody should pretend we do not know this has been going on since the days of Obasanjo kill & go order to the police in 1978. So we do not need a BBC to tell us what we already know. We are our own worst enemies
ADEYEMI TOBIAS NDUDI
8 December 2009 18:50DOES OUR COMMISSIONER KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT VICARIOUS CULPABILITY? HOW CAN HE SAY HE IS UNAWARE? WELL, I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE OUR UNIFORMED PERSONNEL THINK AND BELIEVE THAT THEIR UNIFORM IS UNIFORM OF OPPRESSION………………….THEY ARE ALL ARMY OF OCCUPATION.
OMOIBADAN
8 December 2009 19:32funny people…funny country
Alao S.B
8 December 2009 19:35Eni oriyo odile (He who escape should thank his star) is just the simple answer for extra-judicial killing that the Nigeria Police is noted for atall time. Cases of innocent lives that were lost due to police gun shot could not accounted for by police. I witness a case in a police station in Lagos, where a guy was ridding a new bike he bought with his hardearn money and was arrested for stealing the bike after producing all evidence beyond reasonable doubt. If not for intervention of well-meaning people or let assume the arrest took place late in the night, the boy would have been far dead bye now. Can anybody help us out from this criminal in uniform? appology to the good ones.
BELLO IDOWU
8 December 2009 20:36IF THE CORPSES ARE ARMED ROBBERS AND KIDNAPPERS OKAY, THEY SHOULD ALSO TASTE FROM THE BAD THINGS THEY DO TO OTHER PEOPLE. THE POLICE CANNOT JUST KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE AND CARRY THEM TO THE MORTUARY.
man smith
8 December 2009 21:07the politicians are not interested in cheeking the excesses of the police for the simple reason that the police help them to manipulate elections and do all sorts of unconstitutional activities.What sops a thorough investigation to be carried out on this issue?watch out just like every other thing that has happened in this country this one will also pass or fade after some time,no investigation no punishment for offenders noting.God help my sweet country
nigerianbabe
8 December 2009 21:11must fighting crime be turned into brutal ism?
azu ugo
8 December 2009 21:18The degree of mediocrity and incompetence in the police is very disturbing.OPC,APC and Bakassi are better options!!
Olaseni Odebiyi
8 December 2009 21:18Now we know where RE-Branding should start from. Seriously hoping that the govt do not ignore this article
Arise O Compatroit!
8 December 2009 22:01The Police personnel need to be retrained. The public and police need more patience to handle issues.
osagie oscar asemota
8 December 2009 22:10this is one reason why Nigeria is unique and pecularly great in extra-judicial killings of her citizenry while given NigerDelta oil to beg and settle local and international neighbours that threathened or intimidate her.
Nigeria we hail thee while yet Arise Oh compatriot killer friend and brother of Nigeria police armed robbers of Africah!
the leftover is inhaliated by Arewa community of Nigeria(pdp) without qualms!
Marcel Duru
8 December 2009 22:14Extra judicial killings happen on a daily basis in Nigeria. Kidnaping, armed robery etc are all very serious and rampant offences in Nigeria, but that is absolutely no reason why the suspects will not be given the benefit of a full trial in our courts. The truth however is that we are still a primitive nation with a primitive police force who believe they are prosecutors, judges and executioners. The term rule of law is still very strange and incomprehensible to us.
Olodo
8 December 2009 22:53As much as am not happy with this report, we should not close our eyes to the high rising crime in the country. No one seems to raise any eyebrow when policemen are equaly killed by these boys and their entittlements denied by the authorities. An average of 2 policemen are killed everyday in this country and BBC did not report it. I guess the Guantanamo story is too strong for them to report. Any one caught by these rascals will never have mercy on them, period.
omooba
8 December 2009 23:46whatz a country that could not delivered justice, we needs total ovehaul,….
nelson
9 December 2009 00:00let Mohamed Zarewa answer the question now. all the police in naija are robber and killer of innocent souls. Tufiakwa
sly
9 December 2009 00:08thats how it goes, yet they want us to feel sorry for one cop that was killed by a mob in ijebu ife,am happy the doctor had courage to expose them am sure the figure in places like lagos will be higher,may the law of karma befall all of them bad poeple
yeswecan
9 December 2009 00:26ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE THE NIGERIA POLICE FOR KILLING INNOCENT NIGERIA FOR SAKE OF FIGHTING CRIME….
Antonia Tagbajumi
9 December 2009 07:39Hope,the Nigerian Police,is not using the chaotic situation in the country,of kidnapping,as an excuse,to start killing innocent young men,in the society,becos,it could be that,they could just ask,these people for bribe,and wen refused,they will kill them,and put report the case as an arm robbery case or kidnapp,how come, are been giving mass burial,wothout knowing the cause of death,where are the families of these people,this trend,needs a follow up,there is something going on,which everyone has to wake up to.
Uche
9 December 2009 09:22That one is even a small thing in ENUGU. In Amachalla NGWO in Enugu Police was informed of one EBUKA ANI(Alias Anigbawa),David Ani(STAR),AND Osita(akpaka) young boys terrorizing the community with guns and they did nothing, rather the boys will go to the same Police and allege some issues & they will be arresting the villagers. PRESENTLY, this same men with their gang in company of police and army came to the community directly killed one Ngwu NWANI injured two men all with gun in the presenice of police and army.What a country. The case was reported at 9th mile police station.
As I am writing this the police have not arrested these people and they are still phoning the community that they will still kill more people as they know the wife of former I.G and inlaw to one RTD A.I.G Chime. Please help this community for they are trying to sweep it under the carpet.The dead is still in the morgue.Enugu state police command is aware of it. You can go to the community and the ENUGU police for more information.ENUGU state fear me.
ONYIA K.C.
9 December 2009 09:57THE Enugu Police commissioner is supporting the killing of innocent citizens by not acting when people report that some people are parrading and shooting guns in their community.A CASE at hand is AMACHALLA NGWO where gun running by some youths was reprted to police and nothing was done and they ve used d guns to kill one and wounded two oters in the presence of Enugu police task force without any arrest made by them.CASEreported at 9th mile Police station.Effort is in high gear to sweep it under.
jj
9 December 2009 10:39Youth kill one in ekiti negerian make noice. and ask why they should kill police . Una noko talk about this one now?God will purnish all nigeria police,they will claim that they are clean. they are the people that rob more that arm robbers,
eyiowuawi
9 December 2009 11:01the only authorised and certified criminal in Nigeria is THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE! no doubt about that!
COO
9 December 2009 12:15TOO BAD IF THEY ARE INNOCENT PEOPLE BUT ANY CHILD THAT TAKES TO ARM ROBBERY OR KIDNAPPIN MUST DIE, EITHER THROUGH EXTRA-JUDICIAL MEANS OR WHATEVER FORM.
toyin
9 December 2009 13:38IAM TIRED OF READING A REPORT.THAT JUSTICE WIL NOT BE DONE.WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THIS COUNTRY FOR IT TO BE A BETTER PLACE.
y olaokun
9 December 2009 13:53nigeria means of reducing population
Mark Cillio
9 December 2009 14:55The IG of Police - Ogbonnaya Onoro, you are from this state kindly investigate this case and if it’s true apprehend and prosecuite him. thank you.
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10 December 2009 15:08This is very bad.
i wonder why this should be happening in a democratic dispensation