The Imo State Government, in collaboration with the state Police Command, on Friday demolished a hotel, a mortuary and other buildings allegedly linked to a suspected organ harvester in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of the state.
The affected properties—Jessy Best Hotel and Ugwudi Cottage Hospital mortuary—are located along the Owerri–Aba Road. Two other residential buildings, including a bungalow and a duplex, as well as a smaller apartment said to house a shrine, were also pulled down during the operation.
Before the demolition began, unclaimed corpses were evacuated from the mortuary and transferred to another body preservation facility, while items described as fetish objects were reportedly discovered and destroyed at the shrine.
Addressing journalists at the scene, the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, said the action was carried out on the directive of Governor Hope Uzodinma, following intelligence reports linking the properties to criminal activities.
Danjuma disclosed that the owner of the buildings, Stanley Oparaugo, popularly known as “Morocco,” has been declared wanted by the police for allegedly refusing to honour repeated invitations.
According to the police chief, intelligence reports indicated that the mortuary was being used for suspected organ harvesting, noting that several bodies found there showed signs of mutilation.
“The suspect can run, but he cannot hide for long. The long arm of the law will catch up with him,” Danjuma said, assuring residents that the command would sustain efforts to keep the Owerri–Aba Expressway safe.
He called on members of the public to assist the police with credible information that could lead to the arrest of the fleeing suspect.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Chioma Egu, said the demolition was necessary to avert looming health and security risks in the state.
She revealed that the mortuary was operating without registration or approval, adding that preliminary findings by her ministry showed that vital organs were missing from several corpses deposited at the facility.
Egu said the government would soon set up a task force to clamp down on unlicensed mortuaries and preservation centres across the state.
On her part, the Chairman of Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Chika Ibekwe, praised the state government for what she described as a bold step against insecurity.
She assured residents and visitors that the council would continue to work with security agencies to maintain peace in the area.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, Chinasa Nwaneri, and his team were also present during the demolition exercise.
