The Ebonyi State Police Command has insisted on conducting an autopsy to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of a 26-year-old nurse, Miss Mary Habila, who was found dead at the country home of the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The command said it is awaiting the deceased’s family to facilitate the post-mortem examination, describing it as a crucial step in its ongoing investigation.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed that the command received a distress call on June 27, 2026, from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ohaozara Division regarding a medical emergency involving the deceased.
According to him, the DPO was requested to proceed to the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu, where Habila had been taken.
“On arrival, the DPO was informed by hospital authorities that Miss Mary Habila had been brought in dead. He immediately briefed the Commissioner of Police, who directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for thorough investigation,” Ukandu said.
The police said preliminary investigations revealed that Habila and a colleague, Miss Anita Baaki, were members of the medical team attached to the Minister of Works and had accompanied him to his hometown in Uburu, where the deceased reportedly died in a room within the compound of his residence.
Ukandu said detectives had visited the scene, obtained statements from relevant persons and commenced a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
He added that the command had concluded arrangements to engage a pathologist to conduct a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death and support the ongoing investigation.
“The Command has since commenced a comprehensive investigation. Detectives have visited the scene and obtained statements from relevant persons. The Command is set to engage the services of a pathologist to conduct a post-mortem examination that will help determine the cause of death and support the ongoing inquiry,” he said.
The police, however, disclosed that the deceased’s family had declined the request for an autopsy, insisting that the examination should not be carried out.
Despite the family’s position, the command maintained that the post-mortem examination remains necessary given the sensitive nature of the case and the need to establish the actual cause of death.
Ukandu said the police were awaiting the attendance of the deceased’s family or their authorised representative to enable the autopsy to be conducted.
He assured the public that the investigation would be thorough, transparent and impartial, adding that the command would provide further updates as the probe progresses.
