By James
Kindly share:
Horror in a Parcel: NURTW foils attempt to ship baby’s corpse in Abuja
A chilling discovery has shaken transport operators in the Federal Capital Territory after officials of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) intercepted a parcel containing the body of a one-year-old child allegedly being transported through a courier channel.
The revelation was made by Ibrahim Bako, Coordinator of NURTW, Area 1, Garki, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
According to Bako, the suspect had attempted to send the concealed body to Gwagwalada, one of the satellite towns within the Federal Capital Territory. The parcel was intercepted following routine scrutiny by union members engaged in courier and logistics operations.
Bako disclosed that the interception was not an isolated incident. Over time, union operatives have uncovered a string of alarming items disguised as legitimate deliveries.
“From our previous experiences, we have seized cocaine and other hard drugs. We have also discovered the corpse of a one-year-old baby being sent to Gwagwalada, as well as two rifles, among others,” he said.
He added that both the contraband and the individuals involved were handed over to law enforcement authorities, with some suspects currently facing prosecution.
The NURTW coordinator emphasized that only transporters duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and licensed by the Nigerian Postal Service’s Courier Regulatory Department are authorised to operate courier and logistics services.
He warned against attempts to bypass established procedures — a loophole frequently exploited by criminal elements.
“Some people avoid coming to our office. Instead, they approach drivers privately and offer small amounts of money to move items to other destinations. Automatically, that is not proper; there is something hidden there,” Bako stated.
He explained that whenever a parcel raises suspicion, particularly of hard drugs, illegal arms, or other prohibited items, senders are required to open it for inspection. Only parcels cleared through this process are allowed to proceed.
The incident underscores the growing security burden on transport unions operating within the FCT. Beyond ferrying passengers and goods, union members have increasingly found themselves acting as informal gatekeepers against trafficking, arms movement, and other criminal activities masked as routine logistics.
While investigations into the baby’s death and the motive behind the attempted shipment continue, the interception has once again spotlighted the vulnerabilities within Nigeria’s informal courier networks, and the critical role of vigilance in preventing criminal abuse of transport systems.
