Police arrest suspects for exhuming freshly buried corpse, stealing casket in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command says it has arrested two suspects including the manager of Mbiokporo cemetery for alleged exhumation of a freshly buried corpse and the theft of a casket. 

The Police Spokesperson in the State, DSP Timfon John who disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Thursday said the incident happened on August 3, 2026, at about 11:30 p.m, following a distress call from a vigilant member.

She stated that the complainant disclosed that he noticed suspicious activities at the cemetery after observing two men transporting a casket on an unregistered motorcycle in the dark.

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.