The Ebonyi State Police Command has insisted on conducting an autopsy on the body of 26-year-old nurse, Miss Mary Habila, who reportedly d!ed at the country home of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, said the command is awaiting the presence of the deceased’s family to proceed with the post-mortem examination as part of its ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
According to the police, a distress call was received on June 27, 2026, from the Divisional Police Officer of Ohaozara Division, informing the command of a medical emergency involving Habila at the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu.
Ukandu said that upon arrival, the DPO was informed by hospital authorities that the nurse had already been brought in d3ad. The Commissioner of Police subsequently directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a thorough investigation.
Preliminary findings revealed that Habila and another colleague were members of the medical team attached to the Minister of Works and had accompanied him to his hometown in Uburu, where she was later found dead in a room within the compound of his residence.
The police disclosed that detectives have visited the scene and taken statements from relevant individuals, while plans are in place to engage a pathologist to determine the exact cause of d3ath through a post-mortem examination.
However, the command noted that the deceased’s family has declined the request for an autopsy, insisting that the examination should not be carried out.
Despite the family’s position, the police maintained that an autopsy is necessary due to the sensitive nature of the case and the need to establish the true cause of d3ath.
The command added that it is awaiting the attendance of the deceased’s family or their authorized representative, stressing that their presence is required before the post-mortem examination can be conducted.