By Abdulraheem Kawthar Adenike | Fact Frontier.
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In a dramatic intervention at a bustling motor park in the Federal Capital Territory, operatives of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have thwarted an alleged ritualist’s attempt to transport the corpse of a toddler through a courier service.
The incident, which occurred late Friday evening at the Area 1 Motor Park in Garki, has sent shockwaves through the community and sparked a renewed conversation about security vigilance at transportation hubs.
Confirming the development to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, the NURTW Coordinator for Area 1, Alhaji Ibrahim Bako, revealed that the macabre discovery was made during a routine security check of parcels designated for courier dispatch. According to Bako, the suspect, whose identity has not been officially released pending police investigation, had presented the package as a routine delivery bound for Gwagwalada, a satellite town located on the outskirts of the FCT.
Members of our task force were conducting their usual screening of items being loaded for dispatch when they noticed inconsistencies with the parcel. It was poorly wrapped, and there was an unusual odor emanating from it,Bako explained.
Upon opening it for a thorough inspection, our men were horrified to find the lifeless body of what appeared to be a one-year-old baby. The suspect, who was standing by, immediately became agitated and attempted to flee, but our vigilant members quickly subdued him.
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Bako stated that the suspect offered no plausible explanation for the contents of the package, raising immediate suspicions of ritual purposes. He praised the alertness of the union members, noting that their commitment to security often goes beyond mere transportation logistics.
We are not just transporters; we are first responders and guardians of our communities. This is not the first time we have intercepted contraband. In the past, our men have seized illicit drugs, including cocaine, and even rifles that were being smuggled through the parks. We operate on the principle that if we don't secure these motor parks, criminals will use them as highways for their evil acts,Bako added.
Following the discovery, the NURTW team handed over both the suspect and the recovered corpse to the police. The FCT Police Command has since taken custody of the individuals involved. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the FCT, while confirming the incident, stated that the command has launched a full-scale investigation.
The matter is currently under investigation. The suspect is in our custody and is providing useful information. We are working to ascertain the origin of the child, the motive behind the act, and whether there are other accomplices,the police spokesperson said.
The macabre discovery has drawn reactions from commuters and transport workers alike, with many calling for even stricter checks at motor parks across the country. Human rights groups have also weighed in, urging the police to ensure a speedy investigation and to bring the full weight of the law to bear on the suspect if found guilty.
As of press time, the body of the child has been deposited in a morgue for autopsy, as investigators work to unravel the mystery surrounding the infant's death and the intended destination of the grim cargo.
