By Capital Watch Media
The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has called on South-East governors and religious leaders to ban the preservation of dead bodies in mortuaries across Igboland.
The group made this demand in a statement released on Monday by its leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, who warned of the spiritual and social consequences of keeping bodies in mortuaries for extended periods.
According to Madu, the spirits of unburied dead bodies are restless and continue to wander, influencing negative behaviour among the youth in the region.
“The wandering and restless spirits of unburied dead bodies in mortuaries are continuously possessing the younger people, leading and influencing them into all manners of criminalities, evil and wicked acts without fear of the dire consequences of their actions,” Madu stated.
He claimed that these spiritual influences have erased the godly consciences of many young people and replaced them with desires for immorality and bloodshed.
“This raging possession of Igbo youths and young men has created a strong urge for acquiring quick wealth without meaningful work or trading,” he added.
Madu insisted that the root of criminal tendencies and evil activities among Igbo youths could be traced to the spirits of unburied bodies kept in mortuaries for long periods.
MASSOB also called on church leaders to prohibit the practice of bringing caskets containing dead bodies into places of worship.
“The entrance of dead bodies in a casket inside the house of God corrupts the holiness of the church,” the statement read.
The group argued that the spirit of a deceased person cannot find peace until the body is properly buried.
“It is an abomination in Igbo traditional culture to keep a dead body for more than four Igbo market days,” Madu declared.
MASSOB urged both traditional and religious leaders to take immediate action to address the situation by implementing cultural practices that respect the dead and safeguard the living.
The group also called on state governors to ban mortuary businesses and services entirely across the South-East.
“We appeal to our governors to ban mortuary businesses and services in Igboland. It is a necessary step to restore spiritual and moral balance in our communities,” Madu emphasised.
Some community members have expressed mixed reactions to this call, with some supporting the cultural sentiment while others highlight the practical challenges of immediate burials.
A resident of Enugu, Mrs Nkem Okeke, shared her perspective: “I understand the cultural importance of quick burials, but sometimes families need time to prepare and gather before the final rites.”
On the other hand, Chief Chukwuma Eze of Anambra State supported MASSOB’s position, stating: “Our ancestors never kept corpses for long. It’s against our tradition and disrupts spiritual harmony.”
Religious leaders in the region are yet to respond officially to MASSOB’s call, though discussions on the issue have already begun within some church communities.
As the debate continues, many are watching to see whether South-East governors will take steps to regulate mortuary services in line with cultural and spiritual concerns.
MASSOB remains firm in its position, insisting that the practice of long-term corpse preservation must end to prevent further societal decay.
The group has vowed to continue engaging leaders and communities until the ban on mortuaries is implemented.
