Five Men Sentenced to Prison for Exhuming Corpse in Gombe

A High Court in Gombe has handed down various prison terms to five men for exhuming a corpse and removing its eyes allegedly for ritual practices.

Justice Abdulsalam Mohammed, who presided over the Gombe State High Court No. 8, delivered the verdict on Friday, March 13, 2026, after the accused admitted to several charges against them.

The men, identified as Mohammed Isah, known as Chindo; Kawuni Sarki; Manu Saleh; Umar Jibrin, referred to as Daddy; and Adamu Nasiru, hail from Gadam village in the Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State.

Additionally, a sixth individual, Abdullahi Umar Dauda, faced charges related to this case.

The prosecution, led by state counsel Ahmed Yakubu Gombe, informed the court that the defendants faced a total of ten charges, which included criminal conspiracy, attempted offenses, causing indignity to a corpse, unlawful graveyard entry, theft, public property destruction, belonging to an unlawful society, use of illegal charms, and possession of a human head.

The prosecutor indicated that these crimes were committed on September 11, 2025, at the Gadam Muslim cemetery in Kwami.

Yakubu stated in court that the accused conspired with two other individuals, Aliyu Baka and Reuben, who remain at large, to exhume the grave of a deceased individual known as Malam Manu Wanzam.

He explained how they dug up the grave of the late Malam Wanzam, unwrapped the burial cloth, and removed the corpse, subsequently taking the eyes from it. One of their accomplices, who is still evading capture, reportedly escaped the scene with the extracted eyes for ritualistic uses.

“The defendants unlawfully entered the Muslim graveyard at night, exhumed the remains, and desecrated the grave in the process,” Yakubu asserted.

He further noted that the defendants attempted to dig out another grave in the same cemetery on that day.

The prosecution highlighted that the acts violate several provisions of the Penal Code Law, specifically Sections 96, 95, 218, 213, 286, 335, 306, 97A, 97B, 216, and 219.

During the court proceedings, the defendants pled guilty to a portion of the charges after they were clearly explained by the court interpreter.

In light of their admissions, the prosecution requested the court to swiftly process the guilty counts in accordance with Sections 335(2) and 355(2) of the Gombe State Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

After deliberation, Justice Abdulsalam Mohammed found the defendants guilty and issued the corresponding sentences.

The court sentenced Mohammed Isah (Chindo), Kawuni Sarki, Manu Saleh, Umar Jibrin (Daddy), and Adamu Nasiru to six months imprisonment under Section 218 of the Penal Code.

In addition, they received a subsequent one-year prison term for additional charges.

On the theft charge, Mohammed Isah, Kawuni Sarki, and Adamu Nasiru were sentenced to two years each.

Justice Mohammed specified that the sentences would run consecutively, leading to Mohammed Isah facing a total of five years imprisonment, Manu Saleh and Umar Jibrin both receiving two years and six months, and Adamu Nasiru enduring four years and six months.

In his judgment, the judge remarked, “Having pleaded guilty to some of the charges, the defendants are hence convicted and sentenced as declared by the court.

The court will proceed with the remaining charges against the defendants.

Justice Mohammed adjourned the case until April 16, 2026, for continuation of the hearing.