The family of the late Mary Habila has appealed to authorities to release her body for burial, saying they do not want further delays or an autopsy.
Speaking in a video shared by Symfoni TV, Mary’s father, Tanko Habila Wisdom, said the family has accepted her death and is not accusing anyone of being responsible. He stressed that their priority is to give their daughter a dignified burial rather than pursue further investigations.
Wisdom said the family does not support the proposed autopsy, adding that they have chosen not to suspect any individual or group in connection with her death.
“We need the body of our daughter. We don’t want that autopsy they are talking about. I am not suspecting anybody because death can occur even as we are standing here. One can fall here now and die. So, we are not suspecting anybody. It has happened,” he said.
While the father’s appeal has drawn sympathy from many Nigerians, some observers noted that sudden or unexplained deaths may legally require an autopsy or further investigation to establish the cause of death before a body can be released.
