By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
Residents of Orebe community in Anambra have been thrown into a state of confusion over the mysterious disappearance of the corpse of a 115-year-old man, Pa Michael Nwanwuba Onyekwel, from the mortuary.
Late Pa Onyekwelu’s corpse was reported to have been deposited at one Regina Hospital in the town to pave way for a week long burial ceremony at the deceased’s family house in the community.
ThisNigeria learnt that arrangements for the burial rites had been concluded with a wake keep conducted by sympathizers on Thursday at the family house, while the church service as well as final internment was supposed to hold last week Friday.
Elders, leaders of the community and sympathizers including hordes of clergies were reported to have converged at both the community and Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church Amansea, venue for the burial service.
However, anxiety heightened after attendees waited for hours for the arrival of the motorcade meant to convey the deceased’s corpse.
Investigations revealed that another family from a yet to be identified community in Enugu, who also had deposited a corpse at the same mortuary, had mistakingly taken away the remains of late Pa. Onyekwelu.
It was learnt that the family had since buried him two weeks ago before Onyekwelu’s family came for the corpse last week Friday.
It was further gathered that Pa. Micheal Onyekwelu, while alive, had warned his children not to deposit his corpse at the mortuary whenever he passed away, but one of his sons, who is a priest of the Catholic Church, (nameswithheld) was alleged to have gone against the deceased’s wishes.
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Hundreds of sympathizers, who thronged the community and church premises to pay their last respect to the late Centenarian, were said to have left for their homes in awe.
Several canopies were quickly emptied as news of the strange ddevelopment spread across town.
Food and drinks were served to those who stayed behind despite the incident.
Efforts to get the deceased’s children to speak on the incident failed as the bereaved family members were trying to resolve the impasse with the Nsukka people in order to exhume the body of the deceased sage and oldest man for proper burial.
Meanwhile, ThisNigeria learnt that Pa Onyekwelu was finally exhumed and taken back to Orebe community for burial on Saturday evening.
Checks revealed that other burial activities and condolences were on when our correspondent visited the area.
The deceased’s family was said to have expressed anger at the management of the hospital and mortuary attendant for the misplacement of body.
They also threatened legal action against the hospital and those directly and indirectly involved in the matter.
