BY ADANNA ONWUKWE
The Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Diocese, AJV Obinna, says he is worried over increasing unidentified corpses lying at the morgue of Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Owerri.
He spoke while delivering homily during mass celebration with Owerri Archdiocesan Council of the Catholic Men Organization, CMO, at Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri.
“I am very worried about the senseless killing of our youths. I am extremely worried that scores of unidentified corpses are lying in the FMC mortuary. They are in varying degrees of decomposition.
“I visited the FMC morgue in the past week and what I saw in the place, shocked me beyond description. I saw what I can call corpses yard. They were mainly lifeless bodies of our youths, the fathers of tomorrow, who were senselessly mowed down by both the state and non-state actors.
“The question we must ask now is: With the rate of killing in our land today, are we likely going to have fathers in the days ahead? Only a few hours ago, I got wind of killings by soldiers and the arson that followed at Izombe, Oguta local government area of our state. Bloodletting is getting off hand.
“Soldiers have been pumped into the South East, thus militarizing the area, to the discomfort and temptation of the citizenry” he said
Last month, the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, FMC, had announced it will conduct mass burial for unidentified corpses in its morgue.
Achonye Jacinta, Public Relations Officer, PRO, FMC, Owerri, had in a statement stated”
“This is to inform the general public that Federal Medical Centre, Owerri intends to conduct mass burial of abandoned corpses in its mortuary.
“In view of the above, those who relatives are missing should visit the hospital’s mortuary for possible identification and collection of such corpse(s) within two (2) weeks from this publication”
Archbishop Obinna had in June 2021, said Imo State was bleeding.
In a statement, he had advised Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, to convene what he described as “ceasefire meeting of all Imo stakeholders, no matter their disposition or leaning, for a concerted approach to quench the bloody fire already ravaging Imo people and destroying Imo State”
The Cleric had reacted in the wake of the activities of unknown gunmen in the state.
Obinna wrote “ On Thursday, the 3rd of June 2021, I visited the Owerri Federal Medical Centre Mortuary. As I Painfully surveyed the thirty five corpses stark naked on the bare floor, stealthy dumped there within the last few days, victims of run away killers, military, Police and unknown gunmen, with no identification on them. I thought of many others who have been kidnapped, taken to unknown locations, killed and even butchered, as we continue to hear. Imo is bleeding”
