NSCDC Nabs Six Suspected Ritualists for Exhuming Two-Day-Old Corpse in Gombe
The Gombe State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested six men for allegedly exhuming a corpse for ritual purposes in Kwami Local Government Area.
In a statement on Friday, September 19, 2025, the Command’s spokesperson, SC Buhari Saad, said the suspects were accused of desecrating the grave of the late Mallam Manu Wanzam, an 85-year-old resident of Gadam who had been buried just two days earlier.
Those arrested were identified as Adamu Umar (22), Umar Jibrin Aboki (21), Abdullahi Umar Dauda (17), Muhammed Isa Chindo (28), Kawuji Sarki (39), and Manu Sale (23). They were apprehended during a joint operation carried out by officers of the State Command Headquarters and the Gadam Division on September 11, 2025, between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m.
“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 N500,000 each,” the statement read.
He 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
He 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.
The NSCDC said the suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.
