By Ado Oyeyemi
Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery, Elijah Edet, and a suspected grave digger, Nsikak Effiong, for allegedly exhuming a newly buried corpse and stealing its coffin for resale.
The command disclosed on Thursday that the suspects were apprehended following a late night operation triggered by a tip off from a vigilant resident who noticed suspicious activity at the cemetery in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, the incident occurred around 11:30 pm on August 3 after a vigilante operative reportedly spotted two men transporting a coffin on an unregistered motorcycle.
She explained that the vigilant resident confronted the suspects, prompting one of them, identified as Effiong Asuquo, to flee the scene, while Nsikak Effiong was captured and handed over to the police.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed that he and his accomplice dug up a freshly buried corpse, removed the remains from the coffin and intended to sell the casket for financial gain.
The police said the empty coffin and the motorcycle used in conveying it were recovered as exhibits, while investigations were expanded to identify other individuals linked to the crime.
The command added that further investigation led to the arrest of the cemetery manager, Elijah Edet, on August 5. He was said to have admitted to conspiring with the grave diggers, claiming it was his first involvement in such an act.
Condemning the incident, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Baba Azare, described the alleged offence as barbaric, sacrilegious and a gross violation of the dignity of the dead.
The police chief directed investigators to carry out a thorough and intelligence driven probe to ensure that every person connected with the crime is identified and brought to justice.
He also commended the vigilance and swift action of the vigilante operative, noting that the timely intervention prevented the suspects from escaping with the stolen coffin.
The command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information that could assist security agencies in tackling crime across the state.
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Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect, identified as Effiong Asuquo.
