The Cross River State Police Command has said that the cost of carrying out autopsies on victims of killing by youths in the Ndon Nwong community, Odukpani Local Government Area of the state is stalling an investigation on the matter.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, confirmed that the investigation was ongoing, but added that there was an urgent need to carry out autopsies on those murdered in cold blood
The PPRO said that the job required a lot of hands, especially health workers, that would dig up the graves, fumigate the location and a pathologist that would carry out the post-mortem exercise.
He added that the procedure was too expensive for the police to bear alone.
According to Nigerian Tribune, five persons were reportedly hacked to death out of the 15 people that were originally taken to the forest to be murdered over allegations of witchcraft.
The PPRO said, “We know that there are organisations that can assist the police in making the process easier and faster, we urgently need an expert (pathologist) to carry out the autopsy before we can proceed with the investigation”.
However, an anonymous source hinted that there have been attempts by some highly placed individuals from the area to transfer the case away from the current police unit.
“There are efforts to transfer the case to state CID, removing it from the Unit (ACKS) that had been on the matter from inception which will invariably open loopholes for the suspects who are at large to escape justice,” the source claimed.
Responding, Ugbo debunked the claims, adding that the Inspector General of Police, human rights organisations, both within and outside the country, are also interested in and monitoring the investigation.
“There won’t be any form of compromise on the part of the police, the SP Awodi-led unit are professionals and will handle the matter in adherence with international best practices and there won’t be any form of interference whatsoever by anyone,” she said.
The tactical unit of the state police command had made a second visit to the community in the company of operation Akpakwu’s Sting Unit for further findings, with several arrests made.
Findings revealed that those missing include: Micheal Roberts (62), Mrs Ikwo Edet Eyo (65), Chief Etim Ekpeyong (85), Madam Eyo (61) and one Mrs Edet (63) while the corpse of Nkoyo Ekpenyong (46) was also found in the river increasing the number of victims to six.
