AAmnesty International has raised the alarm over reports of hundreds of unidentified bodies allegedly being moved from mortuaries in Imo State to unknown destinations, called on the state government and relevant authorities to urgently account for the dead.
The human rights organisation said the bodies were reportedly being moved from facilities including Ngor Okpala General Hospital, while more bodies had allegedly been seen at Mbieri General Hospital.
In a statement released on Saturday, Amnesty International said it had obtained disturbing videos showing what appeared to be coordinated efforts to move large numbers of bodies at night.
According to the organisation, the majority of the bodies seen in the videos were already at skeletal stages and were reportedly being moved in large numbers.
Amnesty International urged the Imo State Government and other relevant authorities to immediately establish the identities of all the bodies, determine their causes of death and provide a clear account of when, where and how the deceased came to be in the mortuaries.
The organisation also demanded an explanation of where the bodies were being taken and called for all mortuary records, medical records, bodies and other relevant evidence to be preserved to prevent interference with any investigation.
It further expressed concern over allegations that some of the deceased could have been victims of unlawful killings during security operations in Imo State.
Such allegations, it said, must be subjected to prompt, independent and impartial investigation.
Amnesty International also called for the bodies to be properly identified and subjected to appropriate forensic examinations, including autopsies where necessary, to establish the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
It stressed that families must be promptly informed and given accurate information concerning their relatives who may have died or disappeared.
The organisation warned against any attempt to conceal, destroy, dispose of or otherwise interfere with bodies or evidence that could assist in determining the identities and circumstances of the deaths.
“Anyone suspected of criminal responsibility for unlawful killings or other human rights violations must be investigated and, where there is sufficient admissible evidence, prosecuted in fair proceedings,” the organisation said.
Amnesty International maintained that families of those who died or disappeared have a fundamental right to know what happened to their loved ones.
It therefore urged the authorities to act without delay to establish the truth surrounding the reported bodies, preserve evidence and ensure that any person found responsible for unlawful killings or other human rights violations is held accountable.
The organisation’s call comes amid growing concern over the circumstances surrounding unidentified remains reportedly kept in some mortuaries across the state.
Amnesty International said the immediate priority should be to account for every body, establish identities and causes of death, protect evidence and provide affected families with answers and justice.
