By Sunday Apah
In a shocking turn of events that has sent shivers down the spine of Nigeria, operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have apprehended Nsikak Effiong and Elijah Edet, the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery.
The duo stands accused of a heinous conspiracy to exhume a freshly interred corpse, not for any ritualistic purpose, but for the callous intent of pilfering and reselling the deceased’s casket for illicit financial gain.
The gruesome details of this sacrilegious act were unveiled by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, in a statement released to journalists in Uyo on Thursday.
The macabre incident unfolded on Monday at approximately 11:30 PM in Nsit-Ibom, when a vigilant operative, whose keen observation proved instrumental, reported suspicious activities within the cemetery grounds.
The operative witnessed two individuals surreptitiously transporting a casket on an unregistered motorcycle under the shroud of darkness.
Upon confrontation by the courageous operative, one of the suspects, identified as Effiong Asuquo, made a desperate bid for escape, vanishing into the night.
However, his accomplice, Nsikak Effiong, was swiftly apprehended and subsequently handed over to the authorities.
During intense interrogation, Effiong confessed to the abhorrent crime, admitting that he and his accomplice had unlawfully exhumed a recently buried corpse, callously removed the remains from the casket, and absconded with the coffin, intending to hawk it for profit.
DSP John further disclosed that the stolen, now empty, casket and the unregistered motorcycle used in the commission of the crime have been recovered.
A comprehensive investigation has been launched to meticulously uncover the full extent of this depraved act and identify all individuals connected to it.
The relentless pursuit of justice led to a significant breakthrough on Wednesday at approximately 5:00 PM, with the arrest of the Mbiokporo Cemetery manager, Elijah Edet.
Under interrogation, Edet confessed to his complicity, admitting to conspiring with grave diggers in the execution of the offense.
He claimed this was his inaugural venture into such a reprehensible criminal enterprise.
The Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, has vehemently condemned the incident, branding it as “barbaric, sacrilegious, morally reprehensible, and a gross violation of the dignity of the dead.”
He has issued stringent directives for a comprehensive, intelligence-driven, and professionally conducted investigation to ensure that every individual connected with this abominable crime is identified, apprehended, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The CP lauded the exceptional vigilance, courage, and profound sense of civic responsibility demonstrated by the operative whose prompt intervention and report were pivotal in thwarting the suspects’ attempt to escape with the stolen casket.
While urging residents to maintain heightened security awareness and continue to provide timely and credible information to the police, the statement confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with intensified efforts underway to apprehend the fleeing suspect.
