While Nigerians were wishing each other happy New Year last Saturday the family of Omoruyi Joel Igbinedion of Ologbosere Street, Benin City, Edo state capital was in sober mood. The futile search for their son, Churchill Omoruyi, who allegedly drowned in Tempoga (Ikpoba) River, in Benin, during a church baptism,prevented them from enjoying the celebrations.
The dilemma of the Omoruyis began on December 30, 2010, when Mr Omoruyi, 23, a 300-level student of International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of Benin left home for a vigil at Christ Foundation Church, on Ewah Lane in Benin on the invitation of his friend simply identified as Osagie.
The late Churchill was not expected back home since it was an all-night service. The family was, however, thrown into confusion when on the next day; Churchill was yet to return from church.They added that on January 1, policemen from Esigie Police Division came to their house to confirm the true identity of Churchill, which created suspicion that all was not well..
Toyin Osadolor, the sister of the deceased, claimed that police authorities had conflicting views on how the news about the death of her brother emerged. She said the divisional crime officer of Esigie police station told the family that the prime suspect in the crime,one Tony Ojo, the general overseer of Christ Foundation Church reported himself to the police.
Another version is that, the investigating police officer said the police got wind of the crime and quickly dispatched men to the scene where the suspect was arrested. They also wondered why the case was reported at Esigie police station which is more than six kilometers away from the scene, rather than New Benin or Ikpoba Slope police stations which are closer to the church.
A persistent check by the family however paid off on January 2,when the family members went to a spot where Churchill allegedly dived into the river during the baptism.“When we got there, we met some people discussing the issue and later, two guys emerged and told us that they were part of the search party and they were about embarking on another search and that we should leave our phone numbers behind and go home.
“But one of my cousins insisted on staying behind. I had not gone far when one of them came and said they needed some money before they could continue the search but he later confided in us that they had seen the body but they needed the money to perform some rituals.
“We mobilised and quickly got some money. We also invited the police so that they will be there when the corpse is discovered,” she said.
Organs missing
She stated further that when they saw the body, the eyes and tongue were missing. She alleged that the missing parts must have been used for rituals.
“His neck was swollen, but the stomach and the rest of the body were fresh. It was as if they dropped the body by the side of the river after the ritual work, we know that he did not drown,” she claimed.
Mrs Osadolor said the family will carry out an autopsy to ascertain the real cause of death, adding that the corpse has been moved to Suyi Medical Centre. The family demands that justice is done on the matter, stressing that “we want this kind of criminal activities to end.
When contacted on phone, Public Relations Office of the Edo State Police Command,Peter Ogboi, denied knowledge of the incident. Mr Ogboi said he was on casual leave, but may be in position to comment when he resumes today.
Meanwhile, the church was deserted when visited and the “prophet” is confirmed to be in detention with the deceased friend, Osagie.
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