The Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital (NNRH), Ojo, Lagos State, has issued a two-week ultimatum to families and relatives to identify and claim several unclaimed bodies currently deposited at its mortuary.
The hospital said the notice followed prolonged and unsuccessful efforts to trace the families of the deceased, warned that a mass burial would be carried out if the bodies remain unclaimed after the stipulated period.
Speaking on the development, the Commander of NNRH Ojo, Captain Aliyu Ope Oyeneyin, said the hospital had exhausted all reasonable means of locating the relatives, noting that many of the bodies had been in the mortuary for an extended period.
According to him, the continued retention of the remains has placed serious pressure on the hospital’s mortuary facilities, making the public notice unavoidable in line with public health regulations and standard medical practice.
“If after a period of two weeks from this notice no relative or representative comes forward to claim these remains, the hospital will have no option but to proceed with a mass burial,” Oyeneyin said.
He assured that any mass burial would be conducted with dignity and in strict compliance with established procedures, stressing that the decision was driven by health, safety and space considerations.
Also speaking, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, said the Nigerian Navy approved the public notice to promote transparency and give families a final opportunity to claim their loved ones.
“The Nigerian Navy places a high premium on human life and dignity. This public appeal is to ensure that no family is denied the opportunity to accord their loved ones a proper and personal burial,” he said.
Rear Admiral Mustapha added that the Navy remained sensitive to the emotional and social implications of unclaimed bodies, particularly those linked to periods of social unrest, assuring that due process would be strictly followed.
In a related statement, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, described the appeal as a humanitarian gesture reflecting the Navy’s responsibility to society beyond its core security mandate.
He called on community leaders, religious organisations, civil society groups and the media to help disseminate the information widely so affected families could be reached in time.
“The Nigerian Navy is part of the society it serves. In situations like this, our duty goes beyond operations at sea,” Abbas said.
The hospital advised interested persons to visit its mortuary department within the two-week period with relevant information or means of identification, assuring that all inquiries would be handled with sensitivity and confidentiality.
