According to the autopsy findings, Opara’s body bore multiple bruises and lacerations across the face, neck, shoulders, abdomen, back, and limbs.
Medical findings from a postmortem examination have contradicted the Nigerian police's claims surrounding the death of a businessman, Levi Opara, showing that the 49-year-old died from systemic shock linked to sepsis, starvation and multiple injuries sustained during his detention at Imo State’s Tiger Base facility.
The autopsy result, which SaharaReporters obtained on Monday, also listed hypertensive cardiovascular disease as a contributing condition to his death while in the custody of the notorious police unit.
The autopsy, conducted on November 17, 2023, at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Owerri (FUTHO) by Dr. Chidi Darlington Amadi, a consultant pathologist, and assisted by Dr Alozie C, Registrar Anatomic pathology, paints a grim picture of alleged abuse and neglect during detention.
Opara was arrested on October 15, 2023, and died three days later, on October 18, while still in police custody.
“The cause of death is shock arising from sepsis and hypoglycaemia, due to multiple soft-tissue and cutaneous injuries and starvation,” the postmortem report stated.
"Hypertensive cardiovascular disease was a significant contributing factor.”
According to the autopsy findings, Opara’s body bore multiple bruises and lacerations across the face, neck, shoulders, abdomen, back, and limbs.
Pathologists also documented a subgaleal hematoma on the scalp and a severely swollen right hand, consistent with trauma.
Perhaps most disturbing, the report noted that Opara’s stomach was completely empty, with no food particles found during internal examination — an observation the pathologist linked to starvation and hypoglycaemia.
“There were extensive soft-tissue injuries distributed over the body, suggesting repeated trauma,” a medical source familiar with the report said.
“Combined with an empty stomach and biochemical evidence of shock, this points to prolonged physical stress.”
Also police forensic science examination also collaborated the report of the autopsy result.
A comprehensive toxicology analysis carried out by the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) Forensic Science Laboratory in Lagos ruled out poisoning, narcotics, pesticides, and heavy metals.
Instead, laboratory results showed markedly elevated levels of procalcitonin and L-lactate, biomarkers associated with sepsis and systemic shock.
The toxicology report also revealed elevated cardiac troponins and NT-pro-BNP, enzymes that indicate severe cardiac stress or myocardial injury, often seen in cases of generalized shock.
“The biochemical findings are consistent with severe systemic shock,” the forensic toxicologist wrote.
“The elevated procalcitonin supports a diagnosis of sepsis, while high lactate levels indicate lactic acidosis from poor tissue perfusion.”
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that police authorities had earlier claimed that Opara complained of fever, cold, and headache while in detention and was taken to a police clinic in the early hours of October 18, where he was pronounced dead after an unsuccessful attempt at resuscitation.
However, Opara’s family strongly disputes that account. “My father walked into that police station alive and healthy,” said Iheoma Opara, who identified his body at the morgue. “What we saw on his body is not sickness. Those are injuries. He was beaten, starved, and left to die.”
Family members insist that Opara, a father of five from Emekuku in Owerri North Local Government Area, had no life-threatening illness prior to his arrest.
“This was not a natural death,” a family lawyer said. “The autopsy is clear. This was a custodial death involving severe trauma, neglect, and inhuman treatment. Those responsible must be held accountable.”
The death has reignited public anger over allegations of torture and extrajudicial abuses at the Tiger Base facility, which has long been criticized by human-rights groups.
“This report confirms what we have said for years,” said a rights activist in Owerri. “Tiger Base is a torture center masquerading as a police unit. Levi Opara’s death must not be swept under the carpet.”
The family is now calling on the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission, and the National Human Rights Commission to immediately suspend officers linked to Opara’s detention and initiate an independent criminal investigation.
“Justice for Levi is justice for every Nigerian who enters police custody and never comes out,” the family said in a statement. “We will not be silenced.”