Motorists dread possible outbreak of disease from corpses abandoned along Lagos-Ibadan highway

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Motorists who ply the Mowe-Ibafo area have been thrown into panic due to recurring discovery of corpses being dumped along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

This was as sources claimed that it is almost becoming a new normal in the area as dead bodies have been repeatedly found lying in some parts of the area without traces of the depositors with yesterday’s experience being the latest as a visit to the Mountain Top University axis of the road revealed that there was a corpse with burnt scars wrapped in a blue fabric and tied with rope dumped along the roadside.

Speaking with news men recently, some motorists expressed fear that these could lead to an outbreak of disease and poses a threat to the security situation of those leaving in the area as well as their families.

Prior reports had revealed that just on Tuesday, another corpse was discovered to have been dumped opposite the university while a similar case was recently recorded not too long ago.

Speaking to newsmen on condition of anonymity, a motorist urged security agents to beam their searchlight on the area to help put an end to the un

“I think the corpse was dumped overnight but I cannot ascertain it because it was the odour oozing from that axis that attracted attention to it. It means that this place is not safe, especially at night,” he said.

Another motorist who identified himself simply as Rasheed, noted that the decomposing corpse posed a threat to road users if not evacuated quickly.

“The odour coming from the dead body is not good at all and it can cause health issues if not urgently taken away,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Command, Omolola Odutola, who spoke thereafter, advised residents to promptly report such incidents to the Divisional Police Officer in their area while noting that she had informed the nearest police point for necessary action.

“When they observe such a situation, they should report to the nearest police station. The police cannot act when they are not informed, so people should endeavour to always inform their DPO of such issues. The problem is that most times we may not be aware of a missing person unless their family comes to report such,” she said.

While there are no significant evidence of risks from direct contact with dead bodies of those who died of natural causes to living humans, microbiological contamination of groundwater f0rms a threat.

Sources have revealed that where dead bodies have contaminated water supplies, gastroenteritis has been the most notable problem. Communities should therefore, avoid the use a water supply where they know it to be contaminated by dead bodies even though Microorganisms involved in the decay process (putrefaction) are said to not be pathogenic.

Conversely, those in close contact with the dead, such as rescue workers, risk chronic infectious diseases which those killed may have been suffering from and which spread by direct contact, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C, HIV, enteric intestinal pathogens, tuberculosis, cholera and others.

Meanwhile, Val9ja News has learned that “the substances cadaverine and putrescine are produced during the decomposition of animal (including human) bodies, and both give off a foul odor. They are toxic if massive doses are ingested.