Unknown persons suspected to be grave robbers have invaded a private residence, exhumed and whisked away the corpse of an octogenarian landlord few hours after he was buried inside his room in Benin City.
Consequently, operatives of the Zone 5 Police Headquarters in Benin have launched a manhunt for the perpetrators with a view to recovering the stolen body and finding out the purpose of the strange conduct.
Police identified the stolen corpse as that of Pa. Edebiri Anthony, 87 in the incident which occurred at 10, Mission Road, Benin City.
It could not be immediately ascertained whether any valuables were in the grave when the robbers struck.
The incident replicated that of late Edobor Idahosa, 62 on April 22, 2017.
In the case of late Edobor Idahosa, the grave robbers reportedly broke into the house of the deceased at 20, Adun Street, Off Upper Siluko Road, Ogida Quarters, Benin City, while his bereaved family was away, vandalized the grave, exhumed and made away with the corpse 22 days after internment.
Briefing our crime correspondent in his office in Benin City, the Public Relations Officer, Zone 5 Police Headquarters in charge of Delta and Edo States Command, DSP Tijani Momoh stated that men of the homicide section had commenced full scale investigation as directed by the Assistant Inspector-general of Police, AIG Arungwa Nwazue Udo, in the zone.
“On the receipt of a petition received from some children of the Late Pa Anthony Edebiri, the AIG, Zone 5, Benin City directed men of the homicide section of the Zone to immediately commence investigation.
“Two suspects Ekiuwa Igbe and Kingsley Osagie were invited and interrogated over conspiracy, unlawful exhumation and stealing of the corpse of Anthony Edebiri.
“They denied the allegations, investigation is on going”, DSP Tijani said.
Our correspondent’s visit to the deceased residence on Mission Road revealed economic activities as all lockup shops in the building opened for business.
Efforts to contact a man identified simply as “Chairman of the compound”, failed.
A source who claimed to be a relation of late Pa Edebiri Anthony, told our correspondent that the corpse was buried on January 9th, 2021 and stolen about 12 a.m on January 10th, 2021.
He said the deceased had children from many wives and that one Edwin who lives abroad is the only male child.
“My brother, I commend the homicide men. I have confidence in the way investigation is going now, all parties have been interviewed and statements made”, the source said.
A notable custodian of African Traditional Religion condemned the act saying graves are sacred grounds and should never be disturbed, unless in exceptional circumstances, as deliberate acts of destruction, theft or vandalism in places where people have been buried are not only prohibited by law but also considered a taboo in Benin tradition and most African communities.
He appealed to the Edo State Government and other relevant institutions to deal decisively with anyone or group found to have wilfully desecrated grave.
