The Oyo State Government has issued a 7-day ultimatum to relatives to identify and collect the unclaimed corpses of their relatives deposited in various public hospital mortuaries across the state, after which the bodies will be given a mass burial.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, gave the 7-day ultimatum in a statement issued on Monday.
She stated that the state government noted a significant increase in the number of unclaimed corpses currently deposited in mortuaries within public health facilities across the state.
According to the commissioner, the corpses were brought to the facilities by the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Correctional Service, and other relevant agencies.
Unclaimed Corpses And 7-Day Ultimatum
“Over time, the bodies have remained unclaimed, resulting in severe congestion in the affected mortuaries, many of which have now reached their storage capacities,” Ajetunmobi stated.
She added that the 7-day notice, commencing from Monday, 22 June, 2026, became imperative, given the development and the need to ensure the continued efficient operation of public health facilities.
She urged members of the public, particularly individuals with missing relatives, to visit the relevant public hospital mortuaries for the purpose of identification and possible claim of the corpses.
The commissioner disclosed that arrangements were being finalised for the conduct of a mass burial of all unclaimed corpses in the affected facilities, effectively seven days from the date of the publication.
She further explained that the 7-day notice was intended to provide an opportunity for relatives and other concerned persons to come forward for identification before the burial exercise was carried out.
Dr Ajetunmobi emphasised that the Oyo State Government remained committed to maintaining acceptable public health standards and ensuring the effective management of healthcare facilities across the state.
