Six individuals have been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Gombe State for allegedly exhuming a corpse and removing the eyes and other vital organs for ritual purposes.
The disturbing incident occurred in Kwami Local Government Area and involved the grave of the late Mallam Manu Wanzam, an 85-year-old man who had been buried just two days earlier in the Gadam community.
NSCDC spokesperson, SC Buhari Saad, revealed in a statement that 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 apprehended during a joint operation conducted by the State Command Headquarters and the Gadam Division on September 11, 2025, between 10:00 and 11pm.
According to Saad, investigations revealed that Kawuji Sarki had allegedly contracted Muhammed Isa Chindo to carry out the ritual act.
Chindo, in turn, recruited the other suspects.
Each suspect was reportedly promised ₦500,000 for removing the eyes of the deceased.
“The suspects confessed to exhuming the body, harvesting the eyes, and reburying the corpse,” Saad said.
He added that one accomplice is still at large, and efforts are ongoing to track him down.
The Gombe State NSCDC Commandant, Jibrin Idris, condemned the act, describing it as a “grave assault on human dignity and cultural values.”
He reassured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and upholding public decency.
He praised the local community for their cooperation in aiding the arrest and urged the public to remain alert and report any suspicious activities to security agencies promptly.
“The suspects will face prosecution once investigations are concluded,” Saad assured.
