By Emmanuel Onyedika
The Police in Akwa Ibom have arrested two men for the unlawful exhumation of a freshly buried corpse and the theft of a casket at Mbiokporo Cemetery in Uyo.
According to a statement from the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Timfon John, one of the suspects arrested was the manager of the cemetery, while efforts have been intensified to apprehend another accomplice who remains at large.
The arrest followed a distress call from a vigilant member of the public who reported suspicious activities after observing two men transporting a casket on an unregistered motorcycle under the cover of darkness. “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,” the statement said.
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.
Further investigation led to another breakthrough on August 5, 2026, with the arrest of Elijah Matthew Edet, the Manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery. During interrogation, Edet admitted to conspiring with grave diggers in the commission of the offence, claiming it was his first involvement in such criminal activity.
State Police Commissioner Baba Azare condemned the incident in strong terms, 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 society. “The Commissioner has directed that the investigation be comprehensive, intelligence-driven, and professionally conducted to ensure that every individual connected with the crime is identified, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the statement added.