Two apprehended over corpse exhumation, casket theft in Akwa Ibom

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The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two suspects, including the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery, over the alleged exhumation of a recently buried corpse and the theft of a casket.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued in Uyo on Thursday. She said the incident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. on August 3, 2026, after police received a distress call from a vigilant resident.

According to the statement, the complainant reported noticing suspicious activity at the cemetery after seeing two men transporting a casket on an unregistered motorcycle under the cover of darkness.

She said, “Acting on the suspicion, the complainant confronted the suspects to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the movement of the casket at such an unusual hour. In an attempt to evade arrest, one of the suspects, identified as Effiong Asuquo, fled the scene, while his accomplice, Nsikak Effiong, was apprehended and immediately handed over to the Police.

“During interrogation, Nsikak Effiong confessed that he and his accomplice had unlawfully exhumed a freshly buried corpse, removed the corpse from the casket, and stole the casket with the intention of selling it for financial gain.

“The Police recovered the empty casket as well as the unregistered motorcycle used in conveying the stolen property, while investigations were immediately expanded to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the crime and identify all persons connected to the act.

“Further investigation yielded another major breakthrough on 5th August, 2026, at about 5:00 p.m., with the arrest of one Elijah Matthew Edet, the Manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery. During interrogation, the suspect admitted to conspiring with the grave diggers in the commission of the offence and stated that it was his first involvement in such criminal activity.”

While noting that efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspects, the spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, has condemned the incident describing it as barbaric, sacrilegious, morally reprehensible, and a gross violation of the dignity of the dead, the sanctity of burial grounds, and the cultural and religious values of our society.