Three suspected ritualists have been apprehended in Gombe State following allegations of grave tampering in Nafada Local Government Area.
The development was disclosed on Thursday by a Lake Chad–based security analyst, Zagazola Makama, in a post shared on X.
According to him, the incident occurred on February 24, 2026, after a resident, Zakari Ibrahim, 45, of Barwo Sabon Gari village, reportedly alerted authorities upon sighting one Umar Ibrahim, 30, allegedly digging a grave at the Barwo Sabon Gari cemetery.
Makama stated that during questioning, Umar was said to have confessed that he acted on the instruction of his father, Ibrahim Usman, 60, to exhume parts of a corpse for ritual purposes.
The suspect allegedly further admitted that he had, in 2025, removed a human toe from the same burial ground and handed it over to one Alhaji Bappa Abdu, 35, said to be from the same community.
Security sources indicated that the three men were subsequently taken into custody by the police and are assisting with ongoing investigations into the matter.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies are yet to issue an official statement, but investigations are said to be in progress.
