The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two suspects, including the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery, for allegedly exhuming a freshly buried corpse and stealing its casket for sale.
The command's Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Uyo, saying the incident occurred on August 3 after police received a distress call from a vigilant resident.
According to the spokesperson, the resident became suspicious after spotting two men transporting a casket on an unregistered motorcycle late at night and confronted them.
She said one of the suspects, identified as Effiong Asuquo, escaped, while his alleged accomplice, Nsikak Effiong, was apprehended and handed over to the police.
During interrogation, Nsikak reportedly confessed that he and the fleeing suspect dug up a freshly buried corpse, removed the body from the casket and attempted to sell the casket for financial gain.
John said detectives recovered the empty casket and the motorcycle allegedly used in conveying it, while investigations were expanded to identify other persons connected with the crime.
She added that a follow-up operation on August 5 led to the arrest of Elijah Matthew Edet, the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery, who allegedly admitted conspiring with the grave diggers and claimed it was his first involvement in such an offence.
The police spokesperson said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects linked to the incident.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Baba Mohammed Azare, condemned the act, describing it as barbaric, sacrilegious and a grave violation of the dignity of the dead, the sanctity of burial grounds and the cultural and religious values of society.
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