The exact number of people who perished in the massacre might never be known following reports that there are instances where bodies were plunged in random deep pit latrines scattered in the expansive Chakama ranch where cult leader Paul Mackenzie led an unknown number of his followers.

Sources familiar with the operation in Shakahola disclosed that at some point the number of cult victims dropping dead overwhelmed the standby grave diggers, prompting them to turn to pit latrines for hasty burials. “One of the survivors we talked to told us that there are bodies plunged in pit latrines and might never be recovered. At times the those who were leading the cult operations were getting desperate and ran out of patience to dig graves,” explained a source familiar with the operations in the expansive thicket.

The death toll yesterday rose to 235 following exhumation of eight more bodies by the forensic team as the number of rescued victims reached 89 after the search and rescue team rescued four more people, one in critical condition.

Missing persons

 This is even as Coast regional coordinator Rhoda Onyancha announced the halting of the exhumation exercise to pave the way for the second phase of postmortem set to begin on Wednesday next week.

The RC said the number of reported missing persons rose to 613 after two more people were reported missing at the social support centre desk yesterday. “The arrests remain at 31 because we did not arrest any other person today… The operation went on smoothly,” the coordinator said.

Rescued survivors of the cult who are fully recovered are now being taken to different centres in separate locations for interrogation.

This is even as the Civil Society Organisation on Wednesday called on the government to enhance transparency in the operation by allowing more access to the media and civil society.