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 to come forward for identification and collection, warning that the bodies will be given a mass burial after the expiration of the notice.
The directive was contained in a statement signed by the Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, who disclosed that there has been a significant increase in the number of unclaimed corpses currently occupying mortuaries in government-owned health facilities.
According to the Commissioner, the corpses were brought to the facilities by agencies including the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Correctional Service, and other relevant authorities. She noted that many of the bodies have remained unclaimed for extended periods, leading to severe congestion and overstretching the storage capacity of the affected mortuaries.
Dr. Ajetunmobi appealed to members of the public, especially those with missing relatives, to visit public hospital mortuaries across the state for identification and possible claim of the corpses before the expiration of the notice.
She further revealed that arrangements have been concluded for the mass burial of all unclaimed corpses in the affected facilities, which is scheduled to take place seven days from the date of the announcement.
The Commissioner explained that the notice is intended to provide a final opportunity for families and concerned individuals to identify and claim the bodies before the burial exercise is conducted.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to public health and efficient healthcare management, Dr. Ajetunmobi said the measure is necessary to maintain acceptable health standards and ensure the smooth operation of public health facilities across Oyo State.
The Oyo State Government urged residents to take advantage of the seven-day window to prevent their loved ones from being included in the planned mass burial exercise.
