…corpse was never stolen but relocated for proper burial – family source
The story surrounding the reported exhumation and stealing of an octogenarian’s corpse in Benin has taken a new twist as the allegedly stolen body resurfaced and was reburied amid tight security in the state capital, Friday.
Police Zone 5 Headquarters in the state capital, had over a fortnight ago, informed journalists that they were searching for the corpse of one Pa. Anthony Edebiri, which had been exhumed and stolen from his private residence in Benin City since January 10, 2021.
Our crime correspondent who has been given a step-by-step update of police investigation observed that the entrance of Mission Road through the Ring Road City Centre, was blocked with a pickup van with inscription “Edo State Traffic Management Agency” as armed security personnel protected people who gathered under canopies staged on the busy road in front of the deceased Edebir’s compound and those inside his premises at 10, Mission road, Benin City, last Thursday.
It was further observed that some elderly persons sat round a decorated table, the inside of which portrayed an atmosphere of a lying-in-state.
Discreet checks by our correspondent revealed that the arrangement was that of Pa. Anthony Edebiri’s funeral which was also contained in a commemorative card obtained by our correspondent.
Further investigations revealed that the remains of Pa. Anthony Edebiri were being awaited by the gathering.
It was also learnt that the deceased’s lone son, identified as Edwin Edebiri, who lives in the United States of America was in charge of funeral proceedings.
Attempts by our correspondent to obtain his comments failed, as he was said to have led other family members to a mortuary to collect the corpse of his father.
A man who later secured the contact of our reporter assured that Mr. Edwin Edebiri would interface with journalists on a later date.
However, the man who identified himself as a member of Edebiri family and preferred anonymity said Pa. Anthony Edebiri’s corpse was never stolen as stated by police in zone 5 headquarters.
“My dear, listen, I am an insider. It is not true that the corpse was stolen. Papa had 11 children amongst whom is just one male, Edwin, who lives in America, others are females, all from nine women.
“When papa passed on in 2020 during Covid-19, Edwin said the corpse should be kept until he comes to Nigeria after the Corona Virus Pandemic crisis.
“The girls ganged up and buried the corpse, who does that? Benin has a strong tradition and in Benin tradition, that is a taboo, it is the male child that buries a father, not females . So to avoid unforeseen consequences, the corpse was exhumed within 24 hours, and kept.
“His son, Edwin has come to properly bury his father, as you can see… let Zone 5 Police come here now….”, the source stated.
Further findings revealed that Pa. Anthony Edebiri’s corpse was reburied in the early hours of Friday, June 30, 2023.
The corpse was said to have been interred in another of his building’s in the same compound, different from the one he was earlier buried in and exhumed from.
Further findings revealed that the matter has stirred up bad blood and factions within the family as a result of which nine other female children and some relatives of the deceased were absent at the burial in protest.
Informed sources said one Mr. Jolly Edebiri, a retired police officer, who is a relative of the deceased and is now based in America, stood as the family head (Okaegbe) during the initial burial, while Mr Obakpolor Edebiri, step-brother of Pa. Anthony played Okaegbe’s role at the present funeral.
It could not be immediately ascertained if this later development will foreclose police investigations into the matter.
Several calls made to the Zonal Police spokesman, DSP Tijani Momoh, after being informed of the recent developments, went unanswered.
It will be recalled that the Public Relations Officer, Police Zone 5, comprising the Edo and Delta States police commands, DSP Tijani Momoh, had told journalists that operatives of the homicide section had commenced an intensive search for the corpse of one Pa Anthony Edebiri, 87 exhumed and stolena few hours after it was interred at his private residence in Benin City.
“On the receipt of a petition received from some children of the late Pa Anthony Edebiri, the AIG, Zone 5, Benin City directed men of the homicide section of the zone to immediately commence investigation.
“Two suspects, Ekiuwa Igbe and Kingsley Osagie were invited and interrogated over conspiracy, unlawful exhumation and stealing of the corpse of Anthony Edebiri.
“They denied the allegations, investigation is on going”, DSP Tijani had said at the time.
In another briefing, the police spokesman said “the brother of the deceased one Mr. Obakpolor Edebiri actually admitted that he was contracted to exhume and removed the corpse of his brother, Anthony Edebiri.
“He said he took an oath not to disclose where they took the corpse and that he would die if he said anything about it.
“Mr. Obakpolor is an old man. He was granted bail after interrogation”.
DSP Tijani further explained that investigators had contacted a mortuary in Benin City where the stolen corpse is suspected to be deposited by the grave robbers.
“In their (mortuary authorities) reply, they said the name Pa Anthony Edebiri is not in their records.
“The mortuary also said anyone can come to check the corpses deposited with them for identification as the perpetrators may have lodged the body using a different name”.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer told our correspondent that investigators have visited the crime scene (vandalised grave) as they were awaiting legal advice before proceeding on their investigation.
