Amnesty International has called on the Imo State Government and relevant authorities to urgently account for hundreds of unidentified bodies allegedly being moved from mortuaries in the state to unknown destinations.
The human rights organisation said it was deeply concerned by reports that large numbers of unidentified bodies were being removed from mortuaries, including the Ngor Okpala General Hospital, while other bodies had reportedly been seen at the Mbieri General Hospital.
In a statement, Amnesty International said authorities must immediately clarify the circumstances surrounding the bodies, including their identities, causes of death and the reasons for their removal from the mortuaries.
The organisation said videos obtained by it showed what appeared to be coordinated movements of dead bodies at night.
According to Amnesty International, the videos showed a large number of bodies, with the majority reportedly reduced to skeletal remains.
“The authorities must urgently clarify the circumstances surrounding the bodies and their movement,” the organisation said.
Amnesty International urged the Imo State Government and other relevant authorities to establish when, where and how the bodies came to be deposited in the mortuaries and to disclose their current whereabouts.
It also demanded the preservation of all bodies, mortuary records, medical records and other relevant evidence to ensure that any investigation is not compromised.
The organisation expressed particular concern over allegations that some of the deceased could have been victims of unlawful killings allegedly carried out during security operations in Imo State.
It called for such allegations to be subjected to prompt, independent and impartial investigations, stressing that the identities and circumstances surrounding the deaths of the individuals must be established.
“The authorities must ensure that the bodies are properly identified and subjected to appropriate forensic examinations, including autopsies where necessary, and that families are promptly informed and given information about their relatives,” Amnesty International said.
It warned authorities against concealing, destroying, disposing of or otherwise interfering with any body or evidence that could assist in establishing the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Amnesty International further called for anyone suspected of criminal responsibility for unlawful killings or other human rights violations to be investigated and, where sufficient admissible evidence exists, prosecuted in fair proceedings.
The organisation said families whose relatives had died or disappeared had a fundamental right to know what happened to their loved ones.
“The families of those who died or disappeared have a right to know what happened to their loved ones,” it said, urging the authorities to act urgently to establish the truth, preserve evidence and ensure justice and accountability.
The allegations come amid years of security challenges in parts of Imo State, where security forces have conducted operations against armed groups and criminal networks.
Amnesty International’s call places emphasis on the need for transparent identification and forensic examination of the bodies, as well as the preservation of evidence that could determine whether any of the deaths resulted from unlawful killings or other violations.
The organisation urged authorities to provide clear and verifiable information on the origin, identity and present location of the bodies to address concerns surrounding their reported movement from the mortuaries.
