Police deny arresting restaurateur alleged to prepare meals with corpse water

Etim Ekpimah

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has denied the arrest of one Mrs Gloria Edet, who is alleged to buy water used in washing corpses from a mortuary attendant and then uses it to prepare meals for sales.

A statement from the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Odiko MacDon, on Wednesday, warned against the use of police name wrongly.

The statement added that since the story was public by social media, the command has been inundated with calls and messages asking for clarification.

“The attention of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command under the leadership of CP Andrew Amiengheme, fdc, has been drawn to an online message which has gone viral.

“In the said message, one Mrs Gloria Edet, who is alleged to own a big and popular restaurant along Itam Market Road, Uyo, was said to have been arrested and detained at the State Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo, for buying from a mortuary attendant, water used in bathing dead bodies to prepare her meals for sales.

“This press release has therefore become expedient because of the myriad of calls and messages to the command requesting for clarification.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Akwa Ibom State Command has not arrested, interrogated or have in custody any Mrs Gloria Edet.

“However, anyone who has any information relating to the said issue should contact the Police or furnish the Police with the following amongst others: The name and address of the mortuary; the name address of the mortuary attendant; the investigating Police Officer (IPO) handling the case; the date and place of arrest, among others,” the statement added.

According to MacDon, the command wishes to warn peddlers of fake information, especially those who choose to use the good name of the Police wrongly to desist forthwith or be willing to contend with extant Laws.