The Oyo State Government has declared that all unidentified and unclaimed corpses currently held in state-owned hospital mortuaries must be claimed within seven days. Failure to collect these remains within the specified timeframe will result in a mass burial.
Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, explained that this action is essential due to extreme overcrowding in mortuaries. These facilities are struggling to manage the influx of bodies brought in by various agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Nigerian Correctional Service. Many of these remains have occupied space for long periods without being identified.
Ajetunmobi emphasized that the congestion hinders the operational efficiency of healthcare centers and impacts public health standards. Families or individuals searching for missing loved ones are encouraged to visit local public hospital mortuaries immediately to verify and retrieve the bodies. Following the expiration of the one-week deadline, the government will proceed with the planned mass interment to restore standard facility operations.
