The Imo State Government has demolished Ugwudi Cottage Hospital Mortuary located in Umuechem, Umuhu community in Ngor Okpala local government area of Imo State, following shocking discoveries of mutilated and unidentified corpses at the facility.
The demolition, ordered by Governor Hope Uzodimma, came after an inspection last week by officers of the Ministry of Health led by the commissioner, Dr Chioma Egu and the Police Command led by CP Aboki Danjuma, during which the findings were uncovered.
Also demolished was Jessy Best Hotel and two newly built residential houses in Amaeke Ngor, all belonging to one Stanley Oparaugo popularly known as “Morocco”, now at large.
The demolition exercise was led by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Chioma Egu, Special Adviser to the Governor, General Joseph Ogbonna(rtd), Special Adviser on Project Monitoring and Compliance, Hon Chinasa Nwaneri and Ngor Okpala Council Chairman, Hon Mrs Chika Ibekwe and supervised by security operatives, including the police and home vigilante groups under the oversight of the State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma.
Speaking after the exercise, Dr Egu lanented that Imo people ” are on health risk because this kind of place can lead to outbreak of disease. Again, it is not authorized to function. We are evacuating 21 corpses to another mortuary where we wait for the families to come forward to identify and carry them. But if we dont see anybody, we will consider mass burial for them.”
Egu further disclosed that begining from next week, the Ministry of Health will commence comprehensive inspection of mortuaries and healrh facilities in the state, with the intention of shutting down those operating illegally.
