Akwa Ibom Cemetery Manager Arrested for Corpse Exhumation, Casket Theft

Nsikak Effiong and Elijah Edet, who manages Mbiokporo Cemetery, have been apprehended by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command. They face allegations of having conspired to dig up a body that had been recently laid to rest and steal its casket for sale.

On August 3, 2026, near 11:30 p.m. in Nsit-Ibom, the incident took place, as detailed in a Thursday statement from police spokesperson Timfon John. The apprehensions resulted from reports of questionable conduct at the burial ground made by a watchful operative, who spotted two men moving a casket via an unregistered motorcycle.

Police arrived at the location in response to this information and retrieved the vacant casket. According to investigators, the pair had devised a plan to raise funds by disposing of the casket.

Police command statements reveal that a third individual involved in the matter has eluded capture. The authorities have made clear that apprehending this person remains a priority.

Official announcements have not revealed details concerning how the suspects identified the particular grave or orchestrated the unlawful removal. The vacant casket and the unregistered motorcycle are being held as evidence.

This incident underscores vulnerabilities in cemetery security throughout the state, particularly regarding items of worth linked to funeral rites and burials. Regarding the two detained suspects, the police have not yet disclosed what specific charges will be filed or when they will appear in court.