The Oyo State Government has issued a seven-day ultimatum to relatives and next of kin of unclaimed corpses deposited in public hospital mortuaries across the state, directing them to come forward for identification and collection or risk a mass burial exercise.
The directive was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, who noted that there has been a significant rise in the number of unclaimed bodies across mortuaries in public health facilities in the state.
According to her, the corpses were deposited by security agencies including the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Correctional Service, and other relevant authorities following various incidents.
She said many of the bodies have remained unclaimed for extended periods, leading to severe congestion in mortuaries, some of which have reached full storage capacity.
“Over time, the bodies have remained unclaimed, resulting in severe congestion in the affected mortuaries, many of which have now reached their storage capacities,” she said.
Ajetunmobi explained that the development had made it necessary for the government to take urgent steps to decongest the facilities in order to ensure the continued effective operation of health institutions across the state.
She urged members of the public, particularly those with missing relatives, to visit designated public hospital mortuaries for possible identification and claim of the bodies within the stipulated timeframe.
The commissioner further disclosed that arrangements had been concluded for a mass burial of all unclaimed corpses in affected facilities, scheduled to take place after the expiration of the seven-day notice.
She said the ultimatum was intended to provide adequate opportunity for families and concerned persons to come forward before the burial exercise is carried out.
Ajetunmobi reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining public health standards and ensuring the efficient management of healthcare facilities across the state.
The state government warned that failure to claim the bodies within the stipulated period would result in their inclusion in the planned mass burial exercise.
