By Ita Williams, Calabar
In the early hours of Tuesday, the lifeless body of an unidentified elderly man, suspected to be around 70 years old, was discovered lying near the Eyamba Parish Presbyterian Church, in Eyamba, Calabar South.
Residents in the area expressed concern over the situation, noting that the deceased was not known in the neighbourhood, and no family member has come forward to claim him.
According to reports gathered by our reporter, the lifeless man was likely abandoned by unknown individuals.
An eyewitness report warned that the corpse may decompose, posing a significant health risk to the church community and nearby residents unless immediate steps were taken for its removal.
When the incident was reported to the Atakpa Police Station, the station officer advised that if the man’s death has not been officially confirmed or if he was still alive, the case should be referred to the appropriate authority for immediate action, as it did not fall under the police’s responsibility to take a sick person from the road to the hospital.
“It is not our job to pick up sick persons on the street. That responsibility lies under the other appropriate authority. The matter should be reported to community leaders, who will then inform the appropriate agency for proper action,” the officer explained.
When approached for comments, the local councilor in the area, who pleaded for anonymity, directed attention to CUDA, affirming that they are solely responsible for handling such cases if the person is certified dead.
A resident, Mr. Effanga Obong, speculated on the circumstances surrounding the abandoned body, saying, “It is possible that his family members, who could not afford to care for him during his illness, might have secretly dumped him here and fled, I am afraid his body could be decomposed any hour, unless there is quick response”.
Another concerned resident, Mrs. Glory Ephraim, expressed similar frustration with the government’s lack of support for the elderly.
“The government needs to step up and take responsibility for senior citizens whose families cannot afford mediical care. Policies are not favourable to the poor, and with the current economic hardship, many elderly people are left to suffer and die shamefully in the streets,” she lamented.
The lingering presence of the body has raised health and safety concerns among residents, who now call on the government and relevant authorities to take immediate action to address the situation.
Meanwhile, the mystery surrounding the identity of the deceased and how he ended up in the area remains unsolved.