Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery, Elijah Matthew Edet, and a suspected grave digger, Nsikak Effiong, over the alleged unlawful exhumation of a freshly buried corpse and the theft of its casket for sale.
The arrests were announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, who said investigations were ongoing to apprehend another suspect still at large.
According to the police, the incident occurred on August 3, 2026, at about 11:30 p.m., following a distress call from a vigilant resident who reported suspicious activity at the cemetery after spotting two men transporting a casket on an unregistered motorcycle under the cover of darkness.
The complainant reportedly confronted the suspects to ascertain why they were moving the casket at such an unusual hour.
Police said one of the suspects, identified as Effiong Asuquo, fled the scene, while Nsikak Effiong was apprehended and handed over to the police.
During interrogation, Effiong allegedly confessed that he and his accomplice exhumed a freshly buried corpse, removed the body from the casket and planned to sell the casket for financial gain.
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The police recovered the empty casket and the motorcycle allegedly used in conveying it, while investigations were expanded to identify other persons connected with the crime.
The command said further investigations led to the arrest of Elijah Matthew Edet, the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery, on August 5.
According to the statement, Edet allegedly admitted during interrogation that he conspired with the grave diggers in committing the offence, claiming it was his first involvement in such an act.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Baba Azare, described the alleged crime as barbaric, sacrilegious and a gross violation of the dignity of the dead.
He directed investigators to conduct a thorough, intelligence-driven investigation to ensure that everyone connected with the incident is identified, arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Azare also commended the vigilance and civic responsibility of the resident whose prompt intervention led to the arrest of one of the suspects and the recovery of the stolen casket.
He urged members of the public to remain security conscious and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support crime prevention and law enforcement efforts.
