UCTH set to bury 125 unclaimed corpses

The authorities of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) have concluded plans to bury no fewer than 125 unclaimed corpses, in its
possession, in a mass grave. Findings indicate that the corpses include that of an academic doctor, Sherif Akande, a lecturer with the Cross River State University of Technology, Obubra campus.
The UCTH through an announcement signed by the Corporate Affairs Officer, Mrs. Solomon, said the names of 125 bodies, saying they have been unclaimed from the hospital’s mortuary from 2006 to 2011.
In the announcement, the UCTH issued two weeks notice to the general public, especially those who may have lost their relatives and friends, to come
to the hospital to claim the ones they can identify.
The announcement stated that the UCTH should not be held responsible for any of the unclaimed corpses after the expiration of the deadline set for their collection from the hospitals morgue.
Although, the two weeks notice expired at the weekend , Saturday Independent investigation reveal that the authorities of the UCTH have not
buried the remains of the 125 deceased as they are still making arrangements to give them befitting burial.
Attempts to get the authorities to give a definite date for the burial of the corpses failed as neither the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the UCTH, Dr. Thomas Agan, nor its corporate affairs officer were available for comments. Also, calls put their phone numbers did not go through.
However, a source in the hospital who craved anonymity because he could not comment officially on the issue, said: “The 125 corpses will be buried publicly. The hospital has already informed the Police about the plan.” When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Hogan Bassey, confirmed that the state Police Command has been informed of the plan to bury the corpses.
However, he said from the information available to the police, the corpses have not been buried. The PPRO said the police believe the UCTH authorities
will notify the state Police Command before the unclaimed corpses are interred.
Saturday Independent gathered that Akande who is believed to come from Lagos State died at the UCTH in 2011 after taking ill but his remains were not claimed by relatives or any individual or group. His colleagues, according to information, had attempted making contacts with his only known relative in Lagos, but unfortunately, they said the relative was believed to have died in a
car crash before any contact could be made.