Kwara Govt Takes Action, Seals Off Illegal Morgue Facility Posing Health Hazards

Ilorin, Kwara State– The Kwara State Government has sealed off an illegal morgue facility, Omosebi Morturay at No. 6,  1 Gaa – Akanbi, Pipeline junction, in Ilorin South Local Government Area, as its activities posed serious health hazards to the community and its environs.

It would be recalled that Afrika Eyes reported on an incident involving the death of 27-year-old student Yusuf Mubarak at Nasarawa State University, Lafia, on September 16, 2023, his body was reportedly dumped at the Omosebi mortuary without receiving proper care.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Abubakar Ayinla, and the Director of Medical Service and Training, Dr Musiluyu Odunaiya, sealed off the morgue on Thursday, February 15, 2024.

El-Imam stated that the step was taken to deter other members of the public from engaging in such acts and to desist from such illegality. She added that the morgue has no government approval.

Seals Off Illegal Morgue Facilitys Posing Health Hazards

While speaking with Afrika Eyes correspondent, she said, “We were here last year, October 9, 2023, and when we came and sealed the premises, we saw for ourselves that they have an utter disregard for human dignity, the risk to life, and public health that this place poses to our people in Kwara State.”

She added that the place was sealed and they were not considering opening it in its current structure.

“We received reports of illegal activities concerning the handling of remains of residents of Kwara State, and we promptly took action.”

“We came here and verified it for ourselves, and it is not a licensed mortuary. They have no permission or right to be handling the remains of our citizens.”

“We immediately sealed the premises and called them for a discussion. While we were still working out the way to proceed, they apparently came and removed the government seal, which itself was an offence, they continued their activities, which was unfortunate.”

“We received information indicating that they have resumed operations illegally. We are here today to implement extensive, multifaceted approaches to ensure that this kind of illegality does not persist, not only in this facility but throughout the state,” she said.

Seals Off Illegal Morgue Facilitys Posing Health Hazards

El-Imam said that the government will not condone quackery or undignified handling of people’s remains.”

She, however, said that the state government will not tolerate anything that will jeopardize the health of the people in the state.

The commissioner said they would collaborate with the Nigerian Police and the Ministry of Justice to ensure that justice is done to the issue.

She emphasized that the Kwara State Government has zero tolerance for the impunity and outright disregard for the rule of law.

Meanwhile, a source told Afrika Eyes that Oloba Maroof Adebayo Afolayan, the Chief Executive Officer of Almaroof Standard Investment, who was allegedly involved in the killing of his friend Mustapha Balogun for ritual purposes, also disposed of the deceased’s body at Omosebi Mortuary.

According to the source, “Many powerful people, including some security operatives, are secretly using that mortuary as a dumping site whenever they kill their victims. It is business as usual.”

He said there’s a possibility that they’re using the mortuary for organ harvesting, and the government needs to investigate and arrest the perpetrators.

Another source from the Ministry of Health told Afrika Eyes correspondent that when the morgue was sealed in October last year, many stakeholders, including a professor, began calling for a reconsideration of the decision to seal the premises.

He added that the owner of the illegal morgue went behind, opened it, and commenced his illegal business.