A shocking case of alleged grave desecration has led to the arrest of the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery in Uyo and another suspect after police uncovered the exhumation of a freshly buried corpse and the theft of its casket.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said the incident came to light late on August 3 after a vigilant resident spotted two men transporting a casket on an unregistered motorcycle around 11:30 p.m. Suspicious of the unusual movement at that hour, the resident confronted the men, leading to the arrest of one suspect while the other escaped.
Police identified the arrested suspect as Nsikak Effiong, while his alleged accomplice, Effiong Asuquo, remains at large. During interrogation, Effiong reportedly confessed that the pair exhumed a recently buried corpse, removed the body from the casket and planned to sell the stolen casket.
Officers recovered the empty casket along with the unregistered motorcycle allegedly used in transporting it. Further investigations later led detectives to the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery, Elijah Edet, who was arrested on August 5.
According to the police, Edet admitted during questioning that he conspired with the suspected grave diggers in carrying out the crime, claiming it was his first involvement in such an offence. Authorities said investigations are continuing to determine whether others were involved.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Baba Azare, strongly condemned the alleged act, 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.”
Azare directed investigators to carry out a thorough, intelligence-driven investigation to identify and prosecute everyone connected to the incident. He also praised the resident whose quick action helped police apprehend one of the suspects before he could flee.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said efforts have been intensified to arrest the remaining suspect, while urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information that will assist law enforcement agencies in preventing crime across the state.
