The families of 33 abandoned corpses in the mortuary of Godfrey Okoye University in Enugu State, Southeastern Nigeria, have been issued a 21-day ultimatum by the university authorities to evacuate the remains. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Christian Anieke, announced that failure to comply with the evacuation order within the stipulated period would lead to the university proceeding with a mass burial for the deceased individuals.

Speaking at a news conference in Enugu, Prof. Anieke emphasized that the injunction given on November 13 was crucial to facilitate the university's efforts to renovate the mortuary. He pointed out that some of the corpses had been in the mortuary for over 18 years, and the renovations and upgrades were essential to make the facility suitable for a teaching hospital.

Appealing to the families, Prof. Anieke said, “We have got a court injunction to carry out a mass burial of the 33 abandoned corpses in our teaching hospital morgue. Some of the corpses have been in the mortuary for more than 18 years, and it is quite challenging as we want to renovate and make the hospital a befitting one for a teaching hospital. I am appealing to those who have corpses in the mortuary to come and remove them. We are talking about human beings here and not animals. Go and check if your relations are there.”

The Chief Medical Director of the teaching hospital, Prof. Cajetan Nwadinigwe, disclosed that a considerable number of bodies discovered within the facility were not properly identified. He mentioned that 14 deceased individuals had identical names, and some corpses lacked documentation regarding the dates they were brought to the mortuary, with evidence suggesting that some had been present for over a decade.

“This is our basis for approaching the court and advertising the warning in newspapers for families to see,” added Prof. Nwadinigwe.