In a distressing event at a popular car park in Itam, near Uyo, Akwa Ibom, state police recently detained a man attempting to transport the body of his deceased son in a suitcase.
This incident has sparked concern across the community, with many shocked by the details surrounding the case.
The man, identified as a father of three, reportedly tried to board a vehicle bound for his hometown, carrying the deceased child alongside his surviving son.
According to sources, he claimed that it was culturally imperative for his firstborn son to be buried in their ancestral land, as it would be considered a taboo if he were interred elsewhere.
The incident unfolded when park officials, noticing unusual behavior, conducted a search that revealed the tragic contents within the suitcase.
Following this, police operatives were alerted, and they intervened promptly.
Timfon John, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Akwa Ibom State Command, confirmed the incident and stated that the deceased child’s body has been taken to a morgue. Authorities are now conducting further investigations to understand the full circumstances surrounding the case.
According to her, a father of three boys was “intercepted by the Police at Itam with a dead boy and two living boys.
“Upon investigation, the man told the Police that all three boys were his children. And that in his tradition, deceased male are not buried outside their community. So he was taking the dead son to the village in Anambra State to be buried.
“The Police had since deposited the dead boy in the morgue and investigations are ongoing,” she said.
The police also clarified that “the said man didn’t kill the boy.”
Meanwhile, three persons have lost their lives after a deadly crash between a trailer and motorists at Etim Ekpo roundabout, several kilometres outside Uyo, the state capital
Mr Gideon Uwa, chairman of Etim Ekpo Local Government Council who confirmed the incident said those who sustained injuries have been taken to an undisclosed health facility for treatment.
“Up till about 2 am today, Tuesday 12th November 2024, I was at the scene of a fatal crash involving a trailer and motorists at Etim Ekpo roundabout which resulted in the unfortunate loss of three lives while survivors are receiving adequate medical attention, ” he said.
“As I continue to monitor the situation and provide regular updates, let me seize this opportunity to reiterate that my administration in partnership with the state government will undertake a comprehensive review and remodelling of the roundabout to curb incessant ghastly accidents, ” he said.