By Deborah Nnamdi
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Gombe State Command, has arrested six men for allegedly exhuming a corpse for ritual purposes in Kwami Local Government Area.
The suspects — 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 operatives of the State Command Headquarters and Gadam Division on September 11, 2025, between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m.
In a statement on Friday, the Command’s spokesperson, SC Buhari Saad, said the group desecrated the grave of the late Mallam Manu Wanzam, an 85-year-old resident of Gadam who had been buried just two days earlier.
“Investigation revealed that one Kawuji Sarki contracted Muhammed Isa Chindo, who then engaged the others, to exhume the body and harvest human parts — specifically the eyes — at the price of ₦500,000 each,” Saad disclosed.
The suspects reportedly confessed to removing the deceased’s eyes before reburying the corpse. One accomplice remains at large as security operatives intensify efforts to apprehend him.
Gombe State Commandant, Jibrin Idris, condemned the act, describing it as both criminal and a grave assault on human dignity.
“This crime is not only a violation of the law but also an affront to cultural and religious values. We assure the people of Gombe that justice will be served,” Idris said.
He commended residents for their cooperation and urged them to remain vigilant by promptly reporting suspicious activities to security agencies.
The Command said the suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Cases of ritual-related grave desecration remain a recurring crime in parts of Nigeria, driven by occult beliefs and the pursuit of wealth or power, despite repeated warnings by security agencies.
