Minna: Another Body Stolen From Cemetery

Map of Niger state in Nigeria

Authorities in the Chanchaga area of Minna on Monday confirmed  that the body of a teenage boy buried at the community cemetery on Friday was exhumed by unknown persons. 

The chief Imam of Chanchaga, Mallam Abubakar Sadiq Yahya, corroborated the story speaking to the press and further stated that it is not the first time an ugly incident such as this is happening. 

The Imam suggested the cemetery be fenced to prevent future occurrences. So far, no suspect(s) have been arrested and the identity of the deceased has not been revealed. 

The theft of bodies from cemeteries is common place in southern Nigeria but has begun to gain footing in the north as well. The stolen corpses are used as tools for the practices of witchcraft. 

In recent years, crimes relating to witchcraft have frequented news headlines in Minna metropolis and other parts of Niger state. 

Minna: Ritual Killing Is Bedeviling Maitumbi

• On 13^th January, the headless body of a boy believed to be an almajiri was found in Beji, a town just outside the capital city of Minna. 
• On the morning of 14^th December 2019, a bag containing severed human parts was found at the Maitumbi round about in Minna. 
• On 14th September 2019, a video showing the culprit of a ritual killing in the Maitumbi surfaced on social media. The culprit whose name has still not been confirmed at the time of writing this report had killed and beheaded a commercial motorcyclist and buried his remains in a shallow grave inside an uncompleted building on 13^th September. 
• On 26^th August 2017, a 13 year old boy, Hasan Abubakar was abducted from his home by ritualists in Paikoro local government just outside Minna. Two suspects, 25 year old Abdulrashed Aminu and 27 year old Ismaila Mohammed were trailed, arrested and paraded on 29^th August. They were in possession of the severed head of Hasan Abubakar. 

A Police Public Relations Officer, Babalola Adewole, is quoted to have told the press on the incident: 

“Enough is enough for ritualists in the state. We will continue to apprehend them till they change to better people in the society.  We are on top of the situation and we are equal to the task. Lives of the citizens must be protected by police. Niger State is one of the most peaceful states in the country and we will resist any attempt by bad people to take over the affairs of the state. It will not happen; our men are intact, ready for any eventualities.”

Though not officially recognized, the practice of witchcraft is legal in Niger state as the sight of sorcerers and conjurers strutting their stuffs in markets and motor parks is nothing strange.