Three Abia Mortuary Attendants Narrowly Escape Lynching Over Corpse’s Missing Testicle

Three mortuary attendants in Abia State narrowly escaped lynching by a mob after they were accused of harvesting the testicles from a deceased man.

The incident, which caused sent shock waves throughout the community, highlights the growing fears about ritual killings and the dangers of organ-haevesting rumours.

The victim, whose identity has yet to be disclosed, was deposited in the mortuary for embalming, as reported by locals.

Subsequently, there was a rumour going around in the community alleging that one of the man’s testicles was cut off. The rumor spread quickly soon, boosted by rumors that the mortuary attendants had performed ritual murders or organ extraction.

A large crowd had gathered at the mortuary, enraged by the accusation, and began intimidating the attendants. The chaos escalated to a point where the crowd wanted to take the law into their hands, and the attendants fled with their lives.

Security guards were sent in to disperse the crowd and prevent further harm.

This is not the first of its kind. There have been several instances in the past few years in Nigeria where allegations of organ theft have led to mob justice and violent outcomes.

In one such case in Abuja, a man was lynched when vicious rumors made the rounds that he was trafficking in organs. The authorities have since warned the public against spreading unverified rumors that will result in violence and create unrest in communities.

There have also been such reports of mortuary attendants being implicated in organ theft in other states. In September 2024, the Osun State Police Command arrested certain mortuary attendants for selling human parts for ritual use. Investigations revealed that the suspects were selling body parts to native doctors, raising further public concerns over ritual killings.

The public is being advised by the authorities to exercise caution when faced with allegations or rumors of organ extraction. The spreading of false news, especially on such sensitive issues as ritual activities, can lead to catastrophic consequences. The police have promised to persist in investigating the Abia case to determine whether the mortuary attendants had been involved in any illegal acts.

The Abia incident calls for the need for greater vigilance and awareness of the evils of mob justice. As during the investigations carry on, residents are called upon to be calm and not take matters into their own hands and report all suspicions to the authorities.