By Our Correspondent
A bizarre midnight plot to profit from the dead has been uncovered in Akwa Ibom State after police arrested two suspects, including the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery in Uyo, over the alleged exhumation of a freshly buried corpse and the theft of its casket.
The shocking incident, which has sparked outrage across the state, was foiled following the vigilance of a public-spirited resident whose timely intervention led to the arrest of one of the suspects and the recovery of the stolen casket.
According to the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, the case came to light at about 11:30 p.m. on August 3, when a concerned citizen noticed two men transporting a casket on an unregistered motorcycle under the cover of darkness. Suspicious of their movements, the resident confronted the pair, prompting one of them, identified as Effiong Asuquo, to flee, while his alleged accomplice, Nsikak Effiong, was apprehended and handed over to the police.
Investigators said the suspect confessed that he and the fleeing accomplice had dug up a freshly buried grave, removed the corpse from the casket, and attempted to steal the coffin with the intention of selling it for financial gain.
Police recovered the empty casket along with the motorcycle allegedly used to transport the stolen property, before widening the investigation to determine the full extent of the criminal operation.
The investigation took another dramatic turn on August 5 when detectives arrested Elijah Matthew Edet, the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted to conspiring with the grave diggers, claiming it was his first involvement in such an act.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, described the crime as “barbaric, sacrilegious and morally reprehensible,” saying it amounted to a gross violation of the dignity of the dead and an assault on the cultural and religious values cherished by society.
The police commissioner directed detectives to carry out a thorough, intelligence-driven investigation to ensure that every individual connected with the disturbing crime is identified, arrested and prosecuted.
He also praised the courage and vigilance of the resident whose prompt action frustrated the suspects’ escape and ultimately exposed the alleged criminal conspiracy.
The Command urged members of the public to remain security-conscious and continue providing credible information to law enforcement agencies, stressing that community participation remains a critical weapon in the fight against crime.
Meanwhile, police say efforts have been intensified to track down the fleeing suspect as investigations continue into what authorities describe as one of the most disturbing cases of cemetery desecration recorded in recent times.
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