In a fiery post on his Facebook page, popular businessman Mr. Okereke Chinakaramokwu has taken aim at his fellow Igbo Christians who opt to leave loved ones’ bodies in mortuaries ahead of burial rites. Speaking on Monday, the entrepreneur argued that prolonged mortuary stays betray traditional beliefs about the soul’s journey after death.

“Igbo Christians, can you see that your Pope died on Monday just two days ago and he’s already set to be buried… without taking him to the mortuary?” Okereke asked, referencing the swift funeral arrangements made for Pope Francis in Rome. He went on to insist that “the mortuary is not meant for the dead. The dead should be buried immediately, or at most within eight days.”

Okereke warned that delaying burial beyond this eight-day window risks “trapping their soul” and hindering its passage to the afterlife. He urged families to “bury your dead immediately and hold the burial ceremony later,” pointing to Muslim burial customs as a model: “Learn from your Muslim counterparts.”

His comments have reignited a longstanding discussion within Igbo communities about the balance between cultural tradition, religious practice, and modern logistics. Traditionally, immediate burial was the norm—ensuring that the deceased joined their ancestors without undue delay. Yet, in recent decades, economic considerations, funeral-home capacities, and cultural shifts have seen mortuary storage become commonplace.

Critics of Okereke’s stance argue that mortuaries provide necessary time for families to gather resources, arrange ceremonies, and allow mourners abroad to attend. They caution that advocating for instant burial could place additional financial and emotional burdens on bereaved families.

Supporters, however, say Okereke’s reminder of ancestral beliefs resonates with those who feel the soul’s journey must not be impeded. They maintain that respectful, timely burials honor both tradition and faith.

As the debate unfolds online and at local community meetings, one point remains clear: for many Igbo Christians, the question of how—and how soon—to lay loved ones to rest touches on deep convictions about life, death, and the soul’s eternal voyage. Gist Reports will continue to monitor reactions and follow this story as funeral customs evolve in Nigeria’s Southeast.