Police officers in Abia State have arrested two suspects allegedly responsible for the beheading of two corpses that were kept at a local mortuary in Owerrinta, Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area of the state, the Vanguard reported.

The corpses, a male and female, had been kept at the Might Moon Mortuary, where the suspects allegedly beheaded them at about 3.30 a.m. on 4 November.

Dr Boniface Ubani, proprietor of the morgue, had reported the incident to the police on 5 November. The Vanguard reported that the suspects had attacked the mortuary attendants before carrying out the act.

A source in the village said although people had noticed movements at the time the incident happened, the assumption was that a new corpse was being brought to the morgue.

“We felt the people brought a dead body to the mortuary that night. It was only in the morning that we learnt that some very horrible things took place at the mortuary,” he said.

Mr Geoffrey Ogbonna (ASP), the Police spokesman, confirmed the incident in Umuahia on Thursday, the Vanguard reported, and he said the suspects were arrested at Owerrinta.

Ogbonna described the act as “ungodly and sacrilegious”, asking “how can one behead a dead body? What is he or she going to do with the head?” Ogbonna and promised that police forces will investigate further to ensure they have the right suspects.