Inspector Orukpe’s widow releases autopsy report, demands justice

By Moses Omorogieva

Two autopsies carried out on Inspector Monday Orukpe of the police command in Lagos revealed that the officer died of assault, multiple injuries, and blunt force trauma.

The autopsies were conducted by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and the Nigerian Army Cantonment Medical Centre, Ojo.

The reports were made available to newsmen by the widow, Mrs. Favour Orukpe on Thursday.

On Aug. 3, some soldiers from Ojo Cantonment clashed with some policemen controlling traffic in the area, leading to the death of Orukpe.

The autopsy from LASUTH signed on Oct. 27, 2022, by Dr. O.O. Onayemi of the Department of Pathology and Forensics revealed that multiple injuries and blunt force trauma caused Insp Orukpe’s death.

Blunt force trauma, also known as non-penetrating trauma refers to an injury to the body by forceful impact, falls, or physical attack with a dull object.

The Nigerian Army’s autopsy report signed by Dr. I. Agueze revealed that the primary cause of death was assault, while the secondary cause of death was a head injury.

Mrs. Orukpe, however, said though the autopsy reports were now released, the Nigerian Army was yet to release its investigation report to determine who the culprits were.

Acting Deputy Director in charge of Public Relations at 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Olaniyi Osoba said the joint committee of the Army and the police investigating the case was still sitting.

Osoba said that the investigating team had gone far in its assignment and was probing all issues surrounding the incident, administratively.

He said the report would be out when the committee concluded its findings.