The Akwa Ibom Police Command has arrested two suspects, including the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery in Uyo, following the unlawful exhumation of a freshly buried corpse and the theft of its casket.
According to a statement released on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfon John, the arrest stemmed from a late-night tip-off.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Monday, a vigilant resident noticed two men transporting a casket on an unregistered motorcycle under the cover of darkness. Sensing something amiss, the resident confronted the duo to question their unusual mission.
While one suspect managed to flee into the night, the eyewitness successfully restrained the second suspect and handed him over to responding officers.
Shocking Confession & Recovered Items
During police interrogation, the apprehended suspect confessed to a grim operation:
He and his fleeing accomplice had illegally dug up a recently buried body.
They dumped the corpse out of the casket.
They stole the casket with the intent to resell it for profit.
The police have since recovered both the empty casket and the unregistered motorcycle used during the operation.
Cemetery Manager Implicated
A breakthrough in the investigation came at around 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, leading to the arrest of the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery.
Upon questioning, the manager admitted to conspiring with the grave diggers to execute the theft. However, he claimed that this was his first time participating in such a crime.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Baba Azare, strongly condemned the act, describing it as barbaric, sacrilegious, morally reprehensible, and a gross violation of the dignity of the deceased.
“The command will not tolerate any act that desecrates human dignity or undermines public confidence in the rule of law,” Azare warned, assuring the public that all individuals involved will face the full weight of the law.
Investigation remains ongoing to track down the fleeing accomplice and establish the full scope of the criminal operation.
