As cemetery manager confesses conspiracy with the suspects
The operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has launched an investigation into the unlawful exhumation of a newly buried corpse and the theft of a coffin at Mbiokporo Cemetery, the Uyo capital, arresting two suspects, with the cemetery manager alongside, while one suspect fled the scene.
The incident occurred on August 3, 2026, at about 11:30 p.m., following a distress call from a resident of the area who observed two men conveying a coffin on an unregistered motorcycle in the middle of the night. Upon suspicious of their actions, the resident confronted them to find out the circumstances surrounding the movement of the coffin at such an unusual hour.
On noticing they had been discovered, one of the suspects, identified as Effiong Asuquo, fled the scene, while his accomplice, Nsikak Effiong, was apprehended and immediately handed over to the Police.
When interrogating, Nsikak Effiong confessed that he and his accomplice had unlawfully exhumed a newly buried corpse, removed the body from the coffin, and stole the coffin with the intention of selling it for financial gain. The Police recovered the stolen empty coffin and the unregistered motorcycle used in conveying it.
Following further investigation, the police arrested Elijah Matthew Edet, the Manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery, on August 5, 2026. He confessed to working with the suspects and said it was his first time involved in such an act.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, MNIPR, strongly denounced the act, describing it as barbaric, sacrilegious, morally reprehensible, a gross violation of the dignity of the dead, the sanctity of burial grounds, and the cultural and religious values of society.
The Commissioner directed that the investigation be thorough, intelligence-driven, and professionally handled to ensure that every perpetrator connected to the crime is identified, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
CP Azare also commended the vigilance, courage, and civic responsibility displayed by the resident, whose timely intervention and report were instrumental in foiling the suspects’ attempt to escape with the stolen coffin. He advised residents to remain security conscious and continue providing timely and credible information to the Police, emphasizing that effective policing is best achieved through active community partnership.
The Command stated that investigations are ongoing, while efforts have been intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspect. It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, maintaining public order, and ensuring that everyone connected to the heinous crime is brought to justice.
