“It is not proper to keep a corpse in mortuary for more than two weeks” -Bishop Michael Apochi

Bishop Michael Ekwoyi Apochi,
Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Nigeria, has enjoined Idoma Christians to discourage the act of keeping corpse in mortuary for more than two weeks.

The cleric gave this charges at Mt. St. Carmel, Ojapo Edumoga Ehaje, Okpokwu LGA of Benue State on Friday during the funeral mass in honour of Pa. Michael Agbo Idibia, father of Idoma first son and music star, Tuface Idibia.

Speaking from the book of Mathew 5: 1-12, Bishop Apochi urged the Idoma community to stop the culture of keeping a corpse in a mortuary for more than two weeks to enable the world mark a special birthday for the deceased just like the angels would do in heaven.

He also noted that culture also digs deep into the pocket of the bereaved family.

“We use to encourage people not keep a corpse in mortuary more than two weeks so we could celebrate the deceased’s special birthday the same time with the angels in heaven.

“In our land today, instead of mourning; the bereaved family would be spending. We forget that the family continues after the burial.

“Some community would insist that the bereaved family must build a mansion before a corpse is laid to rest. Some even go as far as telling the bereaved children to construct the community road. And when the children don’t have that financial power, problem arises. Please let us stop that culture,” the outspoken Catholic cleric said.