Oyo gives seven-day deadline to claim unidentified bodies, plans mass burial

By Adeola Badru

The Oyo State Government has issued a seven-day ultimatum to families, relatives and next of kin of unidentified and unclaimed bodies deposited in public hospital mortuaries across the state, warning that the remains will be given a mass burial if they are not claimed within the stipulated period.

The government said the decision became necessary following increasing pressure on mortuary facilities due to the growing number of unclaimed corpses occupying storage spaces in government-owned hospitals.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, said many of the bodies were deposited in public hospital mortuaries by the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigerian Correctional Service and other relevant agencies.

According to her, despite being kept for extended periods, the bodies have remained unidentified and unclaimed.

Ajetunmobi noted that the increasing number of unclaimed corpses has led to severe congestion in several mortuaries, with some facilities operating at or beyond their storage capacity.

She said the situation poses operational challenges for healthcare institutions and requires urgent intervention to maintain public health standards and ensure efficient service delivery.

The commissioner urged members of the public, particularly those searching for missing relatives, to visit designated public hospital mortuaries across the state to assist in identification and claim procedures before the expiration of the notice.

She disclosed that arrangements had been concluded for a mass burial of all unclaimed bodies still remaining in the affected mortuaries after the seven-day deadline.

According to her, the notice is intended to provide a final opportunity for families and concerned individuals to come forward and claim the bodies before the exercise is carried out.

Ajetunmobi reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to effective healthcare management, saying the move forms part of broader efforts to maintain acceptable public health standards, preserve the functionality of mortuary services and ensure the efficient operation of health facilities across Oyo State.

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