OLEH—A private hospital in Oleh, headquarters
of Isoko Local Government Area of Delta State,
(identity withheld), has seized the corpses of six
persons who died in Irri inter-communal crisis in
2002 over unpaid N13.5 million mortuary debt.
This development came as remains of five others
who were killed in the crisis were laid to rest
yesterday amid tears and lamentation.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the funeral
service of those buried, chairman of Irri
Development Union, Mr. Goddey Igorigo, said the
deceased had been in mortuary since 2002.
Explaining that the body of one of the victims was
taken to Oleh for burial, Igorigo said the corpses
of six others were still in the mortuary of a private
hospital which refused to release them due to
N13.5 million debt.
He said: “We are supposed to have also buried all
of them today but because we do not have
money, the management of the hospital took us
to court to pay the sum of N13.5 million and also
demanded for the payment of N1 million
damages to them.
“The matter is in court as we speak now but with
the judgement so far passed, the court asked the
management of the hospital to reduce the bill. So
we are begging the local government, state and
federal governments to come to the aid of Irri to
settle the bill so that we can bury the remaining
bodies of the victims of the crisis.”
Blaming the crisis on power tussle and the divide
and rule tactics of an oil company operating in the
area, Igorigo advised the people of the
community to keep away from anything that
could lead to a recurrence of crisis in the
community.
“We should leave peacefully and forgive one
another for wrongs done to us,” he admonished
the people of the area.
Meanwhile, commercial activities were brought to
a halt at Irri in honour of the deceased as
indigenes of the community who were clad in
black attires wept uncontrollably.
In his homily at the funeral service held at the
community’s town hall, Rev. Ferguson Idike
stressed the need for the people to put God first
in their dealings with one another.
Speaking on the theme “Vanity, Vanity, Vanity”
Idike emphasized the inevitability of death and
urged the people to love one another and give
their lives to God

13yrs in mortuary?? 6bodies The monies you were asked to pay is just small..... Imagine!!! Keeping a body hu died in power tussle for over 13yrs is wickedness....