NSCDC arrests six for exhuming two-day-old corpse in Gombe

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Gombe State Command, has arrested six suspects alleged to have exhumed a corpse for ritual purposes in Kwami Local Government Area.

The suspects, identified as Adamu Umar (22), Umar Jibrin Aboki (21), Abdullahi Umar Dauda (17), Muhammed Isa Chindo (28), Kawuji Sarki (39), and Manu Sale (23), were apprehended during a joint operation by officers of the State Command Headquarters and Gadam Division on September 11, 2025, between 10:00 and 11:00 pm.

According to the Command’s spokesperson, SC Buhari Saad, in a statement on Friday, the syndicate allegedly desecrated the grave of the late Mallam Manu Wanzam, an 85-year-old resident of Gadam who was buried just two days earlier.

“Investigation revealed that one Kawuji Sarki contracted Muhammed Isa Chindo, who further engaged the other suspects, to exhume the body and harvest human parts — specifically the eyes — at the price of ₦500,000 each,” Saad disclosed.

He added that the suspects confessed to removing the deceased’s eyes before reburying the body. One accomplice is still at large, and security operatives are intensifying efforts to track him down.

The State Commandant, Commandant Jibrin Idris, while condemning the act, reassured residents of the Command’s determination to safeguard communities.

“This crime is not only a violation of the law but also a grave assault on human dignity and cultural values. We want to assure the good people of Gombe State that justice will be served,” Idris said.

He commended the public for their cooperation and urged citizens to remain vigilant.

“We call on residents to report suspicious activities promptly to the nearest security formation. Together, we can defeat these criminal networks,” Idris added.

The NSCDC said the suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.

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Cases of human remains being exhumed for ritual purposes are part of a recurring pattern of criminal activity in parts of Nigeria, driven by deep-seated beliefs in occult practices and the pursuit of quick wealth or power.

Security agencies have repeatedly warned that these practices, which involve desecration of graves and harvesting of body parts, not only violate the law but also strike at the core of communal values and religious sensibilities.