27th July, 2018
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government on Friday said it will begin the release of dead bodies of victims of the Otedola Bridge tanker explosion to their families for burial on Saturday.
This is after the conclusion of DNA forensic examination conducted by government to ascertain the identities of victims of the tanker explosion which occurred on 28 June, 2018 at the Otedola Bridge, inward Berger area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
Twelve people were reportedly dead in the tragedy, out of which 10 burnt beyond recognition were taken for DNA forensic examination.
Commissioners for Health, Dr. Jide Idris at a news conference in Alausa, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria disclosed that the DNA Forensic examination had been concluded and that the remains of the deceased would be released to their families for burial tomorrow.
According to him, all recovered victims’ remains were taken to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, saying that samples of the incident were picked up by the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, LSD & FCfrom LASUTH Forensic Pathologists under secured chain of custody.
“Based on the DNA analysis performed at the LSD and FC, all victims samples were successfully matched to relatives’ samples. Nine bodies have been successfully matched to nine families out of the 11 families that showed up at the LSD&FC. They are now ready to be handed over to the rightful families for necessary burial arrangement.
“Collection of these remains will commence from 10am tomorrow (Saturday), July 28, 2018 at the Seminar Room of the Pathology and Forensic Medicine Department of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja,” he said.
Details later…