’64 unclaimed bodies for mass burial in Imo’

The management has decided to dispose of the bodies because the bereaved families are not claiming them.

The Nation investigation yesterday showed that the facility at the FCT is overstretched with unclaimed bodies, which is now worrisome to the management.

A source said the deceased are either accident victims or those killed during the recent attacks by gunmen.

It was learnt that most of the victims’ families do not know their whereabouts.

The hospital said it conducts mass burial yearly after a grace period is given for the bodies to be collected by relatives.

FCT spokesperson Dr. Jacy Achonu, who confirmed the development, said the mass burial is done yearly for unclaimed bodies.

She said: “We are conducting the burial within the next two weeks. Most of them are accident victims brought in by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). The families of these victims don’t even know that their loved ones are in the mortuary. This is why we are giving them two weeks grace.”

Achonu said she did not know if the recent attack victims were among the bodies to be disposed of.

“All I know is that the facility is over stretched with 60 or more bodies. There are offices near the mortuary and this may not be healthy for people,” she added.