By Paul Joseph
Amnesty International has raised fresh concerns over the discovery of hundreds of unidentified bodies in mortuaries across Imo State, amid allegations that some of the remains are being moved at night to undisclosed locations.
The rights organisation said it obtained video footage allegedly showing the coordinated movement of large numbers of dead bodies, with some of the remains reportedly reduced to skeletal forms.
According to Amnesty, some of the bodies were found at facilities including Ngor Okpala General Hospital, while additional remains have reportedly been seen at Mbieri General Hospital.
The development has triggered serious questions about the identities of the deceased, the circumstances surrounding their deaths and the authorities responsible for their custody.
Among the key questions demanding answers are how so many unidentified bodies ended up in the mortuaries, when and where they died, who brought them there and what the hospitals’ mortuary registers and medical records reveal. Questions have also been raised over how many of the remains can still be identified through fingerprints, dental records, photographs or other forensic methods.
Amnesty has further expressed concern that some of the deceased could have been victims of alleged unlawful killings during security operations in Imo State. However, the allegation has not been established as fact and requires an independent and credible investigation.
The concerns have gained added significance following a previous incident in the state. In December 2025, police reportedly discovered more than 100 bodies at an alleged illegal mortuary in Ngor Okpala. Authorities subsequently investigated possible links to criminal activities and alleged organ harvesting.
The earlier incident has intensified calls for transparency over the latest discovery. However, the circumstances surrounding the deaths may vary, as some could have resulted from criminal violence, while others may involve people who died in hospitals without relatives coming forward or entirely different circumstances.
Authorities are therefore being urged to preserve the remains and all relevant evidence, including mortuary registers, medical records and other documentation, pending proper investigations.
The bodies should also undergo forensic identification and autopsies where necessary, while families of missing persons should be given an opportunity to determine whether their relatives are among the unidentified dead.
If investigations establish that any individuals—including criminals, vigilantes, security personnel or other actors—unlawfully killed people, those responsible should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Imo State Government, health authorities and security agencies should provide clear answers about the identities and whereabouts of the bodies and explain why the remains are reportedly being moved.
Every unidentified body represents a person whose identity matters, while every family searching for a missing relative deserves answers.
The immediate priority, therefore, should be to ensure that the remains are preserved and properly investigated before they are moved or buried without their identities and circumstances of death being established.
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