Horror In Isong Inyang: Day Mummified Bodies Were Uncovered In Scrap Yard–Disguised Mortuary

What should have been a sacred resting place for the dead instead turned into a scene of horror in Isong Inyang community, Akamkpa local government area of Cross River State. Hidden in plain sight, a makeshift mortuary masquerading as a scrap yard harboured mummified corpses, leaving residents shocked, families grieving, and the community demanding urgent answers. RICHARD NDOMA writes

For weeks, uneasy whispers drifted through the community , strange odours, unusual activity, and the unsettling presence of what many thought was just another scrap yard. When authorities finally raided the site, they discovered a macabre scene: lifeless, mummified bodies abandoned in undignified conditions. In a community where respect for the dead is sacred, the revelation has sent shockwaves, raising urgent questions about oversight, accountability, and how such horror went unnoticed.

On February 13, 2026, at about 11:56 a.m., police operatives from the Cross River State Police Command stormed the local embalming hall along the Calabar–Ikom Highway after receiving credible information. They found eight mummified corpses and arrested Mr. Sunday Ben Reuben, a native of Nsit Ibom, Akwa Ibom State, at the scene.

The arrest has sparked intense debate in the community, with residents demanding answers on how such a facility could operate openly under the guise of a scrap yard. Authorities have assured the public that investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the operation, including possible accomplices and lapses in regulatory oversight.

Investigations suggest that greed and deception were at the heart of the macabre operation. The mortuary, cleverly disguised as a scrap yard, allegedly fooled even community chiefs and local leaders, allowing the proprietor to carry out his illicit activities with minimal scrutiny. Some observers fear the site may have functioned as a secret organ-harvesting center, a horrifying possibility that has left residents trembling.

“I always wondered why strangers would disappear along the highway at night,” said one local trader who gave his name only as Efiok Effiong.  Speaking on condition of anonymity, another resident, Chief Idarakem  Udom, lamented, “We trusted him as just another scrap dealer. None of us imagined this nightmare was happening in our midst. Many now speculate that missing persons and late-night travelers may have been among the victims, and whispers of a human parts market circulate ominously through the community.

“It was such a gory scene,” a resident recounted. “Dust swirled around the makeshift hall as we peered from a distance, whispering in fear. Mr Item Ekanem stated.

ASP Sunday Akata, Police public relations oficer (PPRO), stated, “The suspect is in police custody, and a thorough investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances and whether any laws were broken.” He urged the public to remain calm and refrain from speculation.

Commenting  further on the matter during a media briefing in Calabar, ASP Sunday Akata, told journalists on Tuesday that the investigation is still ongoing. He emphasized that the state police command would update the public on the outcome once the inquiry is concluded.

According to a community resident and used-clothing  ( Okrika) trader,  Mrs. Stella Edem, “I never thought such a thing could happen here in our vicinity.”

LEADERSHIP further gathered that preliminary police investigations revealed that Mr. Sunday Reuben was formerly a mortician with the now-defunct Eng-Haut Mortuary Company, which operated in Akamkpa local government area. Following the takeover of Eng-Haut Plantation by Wilmar, Reuben was compensated and asked to relocate. Rather than seek official approval for a new site, he acquired a property in Isong Inyang and began operating illegally.

Another resident, Mr. Joseph Agbor, alleged, “He was only focused on the monetary gains from this business, without considering the severe health risks it posed to our community.”

A government official from the Cross River State Ministry of Health, Dr. Stanley (surname withheld), alleged that Reuben was operating an illegal business without regard for the serious health hazards posed to community residents.

However, also addressing the issue, chairman of Akamkpa local government council, Mr. Felix Akposi, through his media aide , Mr. Daniel Agbor, debunked allegations of organ harvesting.  He said, “The claim of organ harvesting is false, misleading, and capable of causing unnecessary panic.”

He reassured residents about their safety while highlighting that Reuben’s operation was illegal and lacked public health approval.

A community leader, Chief Etta David, and local youth leader Lawrence Ndema called for justice, stating, “This has shaken us; our children play near that highway, which is now closed off from the illegal mortuary facility. We need answers.”

Residents of Isong Inyang community in Akamkpa local government area of Cross River State expressed fear and a sense of betrayal when rumours first spread that the illegal mortuary facility was being used by unscrupulous scrap dealers for human organ trade.

“Such terrible news disrupted our daily life,” one resident said.. As mothers, we kept our children indoors rather than allowing them to roam freely. The community even held emergency meetings to discuss safety because of the rumour that human organs were being harvested here.”

Mr. John Okechukwu, a licensed mortuary operator in Calabar, told LEADERSHIP Sunday that , “This illegal hall tarnishes the image of our business.” He expressed concern about both public health risks and the damage to the reputation of legitimate mortuary operators.

Entering the Isong Inyang illegal mortuary reportedly gives visitors chills due to its gory and disorderly state. Unlike licensed facilities such as those at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) or General Hospital Calabar, where everything is clinical and organised, the illegal hall was a far cry from standard practice.

Hear him, “A walk into a legal mortuary immediately shows order: the entrance displays a government-issued license, a receptionist logs every body, noting names, dates, and next of kin .  Inside, the air is cool and filtered, with stainless-steel refrigeration units keeping temperatures steady at 2–4 °C to halt decomposition. There are clear signs, emergency exits, and a small office where families can speak privately with a counselor. A source stated.”

Our Correspondent writes that  by contrast, police found the Isong Inyang facility dim, dusty, and chaotic. Instead of temperature-controlled refrigeration, bodies were laid haphazardly on wooden planks, some already mummified, creating a scene both shocking and unsafe.

LEADERSHIP Weekend  gathered that when the police team arrived the now condoned illegal makeshift, the floor of the illegal Isong Inyang mortuary was reportedly stained, with no signs of waste management, no sealed bins, no protective gear for anyone inside. The air reeked of decay, and the absence of documentation meant no one could trace who the deceased were or how they arrived.

While licensed mortuaries safeguard public health and ensure dignity for the deceased, the Isong Inyang site embodied neglect, risking contamination of soil and water and leaving families in the dark about their loved ones.

When approached for comment on the existence of unregulated mortuaries and their potential to contaminate water, air, and spread disease, the Cross River State commissioner for Health, Dr. Egbe Ayuk, declined comment  , saying he was deeply involved in the ongoing APC ward congresses.

He said, “Please keep it for next week. We are all in our local constituencies for the APC congresses. “. Similarly, the State.commissioner for Environment, Moses Osoghi, also declined to comment, citing the same reason.

Speaking on potential public health risks, Mr. Nkanu Ibiam, a sanitation officer in Akamkpa local government area, warned of outbreaks from improper body storage. He explained that decomposition can affect groundwater and that vectors such as flies can spread pathogens, posing serious safety risks.

Environmental science expert Dr. Damion Ikwen added that when a body decomposes outside a properly sealed, refrigerated environment, it releases a cocktail of organic fluids and gases known as “leachate” that can seep into the soil and eventually contaminate groundwater. Leachate carries bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, viruses, and parasitic cysts,” he said, “turning a once-clean water source into a potential vector for gastrointestinal outbreaks, particularly in communities reliant on shallow wells or boreholes.”

Dr. Damion Ikwen further  explained that , At the same time, exposed remains attract swarms of flies, blowflies, and other insects,. These insects feed on decaying tissue and then travel to nearby homes, markets, and food stalls, mechanically transferring pathogens on their legs and bodies. A single fly can carry enough bacteria to contaminate a plate of food, leading to dysentery, cholera, or typhoid in people who never even saw the corpse.”

He stressed that in densely populated areas like Isong Inyang, where houses sit close to the illegal hall, these vectors create a chain reaction. One unregulated mortuary, he warned, can become a hub for waterborne and foodborne diseases, straining local clinics and threatening public health.

In Cross River State, mortuary regulation is designed to safeguard public health, ensure safety, and preserve dignity in handling the deceased. A member of the state’s Anti-Quackery Taskforce, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that operators must obtain licenses from the Ministry of Health before opening a facility.

“This involves submitting detailed plans for the facility, including location, design, and operational procedures for approval before operations begin,” the source said.

LEADERSHIP Weekend further gathered that “Licensed mortuaries must have functioning refrigeration units to store bodies at 2–4 °C, slowing decomposition and preventing health hazards. Proper waste management systems must be in place, including sealed biohazard containers for fluids and tissues, and protocols for safe handling of hazardous materials.”

The source added that health officials routinely inspect licensed mortuaries to ensure compliance with sanitation, record-keeping, and operational standards. “Unfortunately, none of these were observed at the Isong Inyang facility,” he said.

The Cross River State government, led by Governor Bassey Otu, has established a 30-man Anti-Quackery Taskforce empowered to clamp down on illegal health facilities, including unlicensed mortuaries, and enforce compliance with state regulations.

Today, the discovery of these  eight mummified corpses in the scrap   disguised facility turned illegal embalming hall in Isong Inyang, Akamkpa, underscores glaring gaps in the enforcement of mortuary regulations in Cross River State, placing public health and safety at risk.

In response, Governor Bassey Otu approved the formation of a 30-member Anti-Quackery Taskforce tasked with cracking down on illegal health facilities, in including unlicensed mortuaries and ensuring strict compliance with standard operating procedures.

The illegal operation of Mr. Sunday Ben Reuben, who has been arrested, highlights the urgent need for strengthened oversight. Experts warn that such unregulated facilities risk groundwater contamination and disease spread through vectors like flies, threatening local communities and undermining dignity in handling the deceased. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by unmonitored mortuary operations and the importance of rigorous enforcement of health regulations.