NSCDC Arrests Six Suspects for Exhuming Two-Day-Old Corpse in Gombe

Human Part Syndicate Nabbed for Ritual Activities in Kwami Local Government

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Gombe State Command, has apprehended six suspects allegedly involved in 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 arrested during a joint operation conducted by officers from the State Command Headquarters and Gadam Division between 10:00 and 11:00 pm on September 11, 2025.

According to the Command’s spokesperson, SC Buhari Saad, the syndicate desecrated the grave of 85-year-old Mallam Manu Wanzam, who had been buried only two days earlier.

“Investigation revealed that one Kawuji Sarki contracted Muhammed Isa Chindo, who then recruited the others, to exhume the body and harvest the eyes at ₦500,000 each,” Saad stated.

The suspects confessed to removing the deceased’s eyes before reburying the body. One accomplice remains at large, and security operatives are intensifying efforts to track him down.

NSCDC Condemns Act, Vows Justice: The State Commandant, Jibrin Idris, strongly condemned the crime, describing it as both a violation of law and an assault on cultural values.

“This crime is not only unlawful but also a grave affront to human dignity. We assure the people of Gombe State that justice will be served,” Idris said.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.

Rising Concerns Over Ritual-Related Crimes: Cases of exhuming corpses for ritual purposes have become a disturbing trend in some parts of Nigeria, often fueled by occult beliefs and the quest for quick wealth or power. Security agencies continue to caution against these practices, warning that they threaten social values, religious beliefs, and communal peace.

The NSCDC confirmed that the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

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