Imo Government Demolishes Hotel and Mortuary Over Alleged Organ Harvesting Activities

The Imo state government has demolished Jessy Best Hotel and the mortuary of Ugwudi Cottage Hospital along the Owerri-Aba road in Ngor Okpala LGA over alleged organ harvesting activities. Authorities had previously sealed the mortuary after discovering decomposed and mutilated corpses in unhygienic conditions, raising suspicions of illegal operations.

State Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma told reporters that the demolitions were carried out under the directive of Governor Hope Uzodimma. The owner of the properties, Stanley Oparaugo, also known as ‘Morocco,’ is now wanted by police after reportedly ignoring multiple invitations for questioning.

Danjuma stated that intelligence reports identified the hotel and mortuary as centers of criminal activity. “The mortuary was suspected to be a site for organ harvesting, as many of the bodies recovered were mutilated,” he said. He assured residents that Oparaugo would not evade the law indefinitely and encouraged the public to provide any information that could aid his arrest. Travelers along the Owerri-Aba expressway were also assured of tight security during the yuletide season.

In addition to the hotel and mortuary, authorities demolished two luxury homes, a bungalow, a duplex, and a smaller apartment in the Ngor community. These properties were reportedly used as a shrine, with fetish items discovered and burned during the operation.