“Mass burial for accident victims is almost inevitable”

For victims of fatal accidents, mass burials are often inevitable. Recently, the authorities of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), held a mass burial for the over 60 persons burnt to death in a road accident which occurred along the Benin-Ore expressway on April 5.

With different burial rites and traditions overlooked and the feeling of having to choose the burial site of a family member neglected, many victims are often buried alongside other bodies, because of circumstances of identifying the victims’ bodies. The Nigerian Tribune conducted an opinion poll, asking Nigerians if they supported mass burial for accident victims. Respondents commented on our Facebook page and Doyin Adeoye brings the excerpts:

Ojoawo Iyanuoluwa: No, I don’t support it because I feel it is not honourable and befitting, except for security forces who were killed on duty or those who died in the course of serving the country, but for ordinary citizens, I don’t think it is appropriate. Corpses should be given to family members of the deceased and should only be given a mass burial if no family member was found.

Ahmed Medlat Olatidoye: I feel it is a two way thing. If the family members could be present to identify their deceased, then they should be handed the corpse. However, at times, the deceased might not be easy to identify due to extreme burns and at other times, no family member may come forth to claim the body, so in such situation, mass burial is inevitable.

Ogedengbe Muhammed Sikiru: Where the body of the victim could still be identified either by the government agent or the deceased’s family members, such body should be released to the family, but if otherwise, mass burial is the only option. Blessing Adewale: Mass burial for accident victims is not really proper if the victims could be identified by their relatives, because various tribes have their own means of carrying out burial rites. So the issue of mass burial is not really appropriate, unless if the accident is extremely fatal to the extent that victims cannot be identified.

Adeyinka Aremu: I don’t believe in mass burial, so far family members of the deceased are still alive. No matter what, the families should be contacted and handed over the corpse.

Grace Ebunoluwa Ameh: No, in the sense that the deceased have their own family members who may want to take the corpse to their village. So if bodies could still be identified, then the families should be given the corpses.

Peterside Ajakaiye Omo Ajakaiye: Yes, I would support mass burial if the bodies cannot be recognised, or not claimed.

Samson Sepete Kunle: I do not support giving people mass burials.

Abefe Ayodeji Ismail Adelani: Yes, I support it because, the best thing is to give them mass burial so as to avoid wrong disposition of corpses to family members, where people would be given bodies of victims that do not belong to them.

Victoria Ayo: Mass burial for accident victims that could not be recognised is appropriate.

Egbeleke Ademola: If they cannot identify their victims, then I think a mass burial is the only option.

Gbenga Olayiwola: I don’t support mass burials in any way because some cultures require that their sons and daughters should be buried on their land or in some cases, burial rites are highly important. Mass burial obviously would not put this into consideration and some cultures are highly traditional.

Salau Lukman Isaac: I think it depends on the nature of the accident. If the accident is very fatal and the bodies of the dead could not be identified, then a mass burial is the best option. But if the identity of the dead can be recognised, then I don’t think mass burial is necessary. Mass burial for accident victims should be conditional.

Quadri Balogun: I think mass burials are almost inevitable in most cases, because when a victim is burnt beyond recognition, then there is no other choice than to bury the victims in mass graves.

Comrade Immunity: Yes, I support mass burials for accident victims on two occasions, first, if the body is not complete or damaged beyond recognition, and secondly, if their relations could not be contacted.

Tunmise Diamond: I think giving mass burials to accident victims is the best way to sort them out, especially when there is no one to claim the bodies. I believe that would be a relief, even to the families, from the shock of the gory sight of the corpses and the emotional stress of the burial. Comrade Akorede Sha

kir: Talking from the religious perspective, a man’s soul is highly valued by the creator. Hence, there should be an extreme sympathy and human feelings for accident victims, by giving immediate attention to their bodies. For instance for a hit and run victim, attending to such person, shows a sense of humanity. So for accident victims, I totally support mass burial.

Tony Clement: Whoever dies, knows nothing about how he or she is buried or whoever he or she is buried with. In my opinion, accident victims with no form of identity or whose people could not be contacted, have automatically become the state’s property. So, such victims should be given mass burial. I don’t believe it is awkward.

Oluwatosin Olatunji: When the bodies are badly burnt beyond recognition. Then there is no way the bodies can be identified. And also, the hospitals cannot continue to hold on to the bodies of victims, so mass burial is, in some cases, appropriate. Tuesday 16 April 2013