DEPLOYING FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY IN IDENTIFICATION AND RESOLUTION OF DEATH RELATED SITUATIONS IN NIGERIA

The paper examines the contributions of forensic anthropology in contemporary human society. It also forecloses the justification for deploying forensic anthropology in the identification and resolution of death related situations in Nigeria. The justification for deploying forensic anthropology in verifying victims is linked with events of air and road disasters that sometimes result in severe burnt of victims; ritual killings where the exact identities of victims could not be ascertained due to fragmentary nature of corpses among other situations. The paper further revealed some challenges forensic anthropology may encounter in the course of doing their job in the country. It recommends, amongst others the need for government to accord special priority to forensic anthropology practice in Nigeria, with the training of forensic anthropologists especially in Western Universities. In addition, it recommends urgent need for government to establish modern and functional human forensic laboratories across the country.