The Nigeria Police Force, Akwa Ibom State Command, has arrested two persons, including the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery in Uyo, over the alleged exhumation of a freshly buried corpse and the theft of its casket.

The police said one other suspect involved in the incident is on the run, while efforts are ongoing to arrest him.

The command’s spokeswoman, Timfon John, a deputy superintendent of police, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to the police, the incident was uncovered late on 3 August after a vigilant member of the public alerted officers to suspicious activities at the cemetery.

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The resident reportedly saw two men transporting a casket on an unregistered motorcycle around 11:30 p.m. and confronted them over the movement of the casket at such an unusual hour.

The police said one of the suspects, identified as Effiong Asuquo, escaped, while the second suspect, Nsikak Effiong, was apprehended by the resident and handed over to the police.

During interrogation, Mr Effiong allegedly confessed that he and his accomplice exhumed a freshly buried corpse, removed the body from the casket and stole the casket with the intention of selling it.

The police recovered the empty casket and the unregistered motorcycle allegedly used to transport it.

The investigation later led to the arrest of Elijah Edet, the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery, on 5 August.

According to the police, Mr Edet admitted during interrogation that he conspired with the grave diggers in committing the offence and claimed it was his first involvement in such an act.

The statement said the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Baba Azare, condemned the incident, describing it as “barbaric, sacrilegious, morally reprehensible, and a gross violation of the dignity of the dead, the sanctity of burial grounds, and the cultural and religious values of our society.”

The statement said Mr Azare directed investigators to conduct a comprehensive and intelligence-driven investigation to ensure everyone connected with the crime is identified and prosecuted.

Mr Azare also commended the resident whose intervention led to the arrest of one suspect and called on members of the public to continue providing timely information to security agencies.

The police said investigations are ongoing, while efforts have been intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspect.

PREMIUM TIMES reported in 2021 how a man’s corpse was exhumed and discarded hours after burial in Akwa Ibom State.