The Nigeria Police Force, Akwa Ibom state Command, has arrested two persons, including the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery in Uyo, over 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, stated this in a statement on Thursday.

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

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. (Premium Times)