06/08/2026
Police Arrest Two Over Exhumation of Freshly Buried Co**se, Casket Theft in Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two suspects, including the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery in Uyo, over the unlawful exhumation of a freshly buried co**se and the theft of a casket, while intensifying efforts to apprehend a third suspect who remains at large.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued on 6 August, 2026, describing the arrests as a major breakthrough in the investigation.
According to the statement, the incident was uncovered on 3 August, 2026, at about 11:30 p.m., following a distress call from a vigilant resident who reported seeing two men transporting a casket on an unregistered motorcycle under the cover of darkness from Mbiokporo Cemetery.
The complainant reportedly confronted the suspects to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the movement of the casket at such an unusual hour. One of the suspects, identified as Effiong Asuquo, escaped, while his alleged accomplice, Nsikak Effiong, was apprehended and handed over to the Police.
Police investigations revealed that the suspect confessed to exhuming a freshly buried co**se with his accomplice, removing the co**se from the casket, and stealing the casket with the intention of selling it for financial gain.
The Command said officers recovered the empty casket and the unregistered motorcycle allegedly used to transport the stolen property.
Further investigations led to the arrest of the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery, Elijah Matthew Edet, on 5 August, 2026, at about 5:00 p.m.
According to the Police, the cemetery manager admitted during interrogation that he conspired with the grave diggers in committing the offence and claimed it was his first involvement in such criminal activity.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, condemned the 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 society.
He directed that the investigation be comprehensive, intelligence-driven, and professionally conducted to ensure that everyone connected with the crime is identified, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Commissioner also commended the vigilance and civic responsibility of the complainant, whose prompt intervention led to the arrest of one of the suspects and the recovery of the stolen casket. He urged residents to remain security conscious and continue providing credible information to the Police, stressing that effective policing depends on active community partnership.
The Police Command said investigations are ongoing, while efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspect and bring all those involved in the crime to justice.
RFM NEWS
