Keypoints:
- Over 100 corpses found in Imo
- Hotel and mortuary sealed by police
- Organ-harvesting investigation launched
POLICE in south-east Nigeria have launched a major investigation into suspected organ-harvesting operations after a weekend raid in Imo state uncovered more than 100 decomposed and mutilated corpses in a private mortuary attached to a local hotel.
The site, located in the Umuhu autonomous community in Ngor-Okpala district, was sealed off by a joint team of police, state health officials and local vigilantes. The suspect believed to control the properties is now wanted by authorities.
Police uncover mass graves behind hotel
Henry Okoye, spokesperson for the Imo police command, said on Monday that forensic teams are examining remains found across the mortuary site. According to Okoye, intelligence reports linked the hotel and mortuary to a criminal network tied to kidnapping, ritual killings and suspected organ trafficking.
He said more than 100 corpses were discovered in varying states of decomposition, with several bodies showing signs of mutilation. Although officials cautioned that only full forensic review can confirm organ removal, police say early evidence strengthened suspicions of organised harvesting.
‘Forensic experts have secured evidence… and all accomplices will be brought to justice,’ Okoye said. He told reporters that the operation involved the state health commissioner, a pathologist, local leaders and vigilantes working alongside police.
Suspected ring leader declared wanted
The individual linked to the hotel and mortuary business has been declared wanted by the Imo police command. Officers also raided the suspect’s residence in the area, recovering materials they believe may support the investigation. Okoye declined to provide further detail, citing the sensitivity of the case and the need to preserve forensic integrity.
Residents of Ngor-Okpala described shock at the scale of the discovery. Local vigilantes working with police said they had suspected criminal activity in the building but lacked direct evidence to approach authorities before a recent intelligence briefing triggered the raid.
Community leaders have urged police to widen the probe, calling it one of the most disturbing cases of organised crime to emerge in the region.
Nigeria’s insecurity crisis deepens
Nigeria has faced a growing wave of violent crime in recent years as kidnapping groups expand their reach. Analysts say criminal networks are increasingly interconnected, linking ransom kidnappings, ritual killings and alleged organ-trafficking markets.
Security specialists argue that weak surveillance, limited forensic capacity and porous borders have enabled underground networks to thrive. Previous raids in several states have uncovered similar alleged trafficking rings, though convictions remain rare due to witness fears and gaps in evidence.
Rights advocates have urged government agencies to prioritise forensic training and community protection, noting that residents often fear retaliation if they report suspicious activity.
State promises full investigation
Imo state officials have pledged to investigate the case thoroughly and review licensing procedures for mortuary operators across the district. Police say the organ-harvesting investigation is now formally under way, with expected support from federal agencies.
The command has appealed to residents for information and encouraged communities to report unusual activities linked to abandoned buildings, isolated facilities or unexplained movements.
Officials stressed that the raid marks an important breakthrough in efforts to dismantle organised criminal groups operating silently across rural districts.
