The Gombe State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested six suspected ritualists for allegedly exhuming the corpse of an 85-year-old man and harvesting his eyes just two days after burial.
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 paraded after a joint operation by officers of the State Command Headquarters and Gadam Division in Kwami Local Government Area. They were arrested between 10:00 and 11:00 pm on September 11, 2025.
According to the Command’s spokesperson, SC Buhari Saad, the men allegedly desecrated the grave of late Mallam Manu Wanzam, a respected community elder from Gadam, who had been buried two days earlier.
Saad said preliminary investigation revealed that one of the suspects, Kawuji Sarki, contracted Chindo, who in turn engaged four others, to exhume the body and harvest body parts for ritual purposes.
“Investigation revealed that the suspects were promised ₦500,000 each for removing the deceased’s eyes before reburying him. They have confessed to the crime,” Saad disclosed.
He added that one accomplice was still on the run, while security operatives had launched a manhunt for him.
Reacting, the State Commandant, Jibrin Idris, condemned the act, describing it as both a criminal offence and a cultural taboo.
“This crime is not only a violation of the law but also a grave assault on human dignity and cultural values. We assure the people of Gombe that justice will be served,” Idris said.
He commended community members for their vigilance and urged residents to remain alert to suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods.
“We call on residents to promptly report any strange movements or suspicious persons. Together, we can dismantle these criminal networks,” he added.
The NSCDC confirmed that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Cases of grave desecration and ritual killings have remained a recurring challenge in parts of Nigeria, driven by occult beliefs and the quest for quick wealth. Security agencies have repeatedly warned that such acts not only break the law but also violate communal and religious sensibilities.
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