At least six suspects alleged to have exhumed a corpse for ritual purposes in Kwami Local Government Area have been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Gombe State Command.
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.
The command Public Relations Officer, SC Buhari Saad, who confirmed the arrest of the suspects through a statement issued on Friday, added that 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 will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.
The Command image-maker 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, just as he also 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.
