Adamawa hunter exhumes stepfather’s corpse, removes head for rituals

The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested a 55-year-old hunter, Yusuf Garba, popularly known as Gana, for allegedly exhuming the corpse of his stepfather and severing his head for ritual purposes.

According to police reports, the shocking incident took place in Tappare Kona Uku, Jada Local Government Area. The suspect confessed to the crime during an interrogation conducted by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje.

Garba revealed that the son of the deceased pressured him into carrying out the gruesome act, demanding his father’s head for traditional rites a year after his burial.

“When my stepfather died, his son wanted to take the body to Jalingo, Taraba State, for burial, but his request was denied,” Garba recounted. “A year later, he returned and insisted I retrieve the head from the grave. I was afraid because he is a witch and could harm me or my children, so I did as he asked.”

Garba admitted to digging up the grave at around 4:00 a.m., cutting off the head, and handing it over to the deceased’s son in a polythene bag.

Two weeks after the incident, the wife of the deceased, who had been inherited by the son, reported experiencing disturbing dreams. In response, Garba claimed he performed a ritual, slaughtering a chicken and pouring its blood over the decomposed body to stop the nightmares.

“After performing the ritual, I cooked and ate the chicken,” he added. “This happened about four years ago, but a recent dispute with Benjamin Jatau, who was aware of the incident, led to him reporting the matter to the police.”

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nguroje, confirmed that Commissioner of Police, CP Morris Dankombo, has ordered a thorough investigation into the case, assuring that the suspect will be prosecuted accordingly.

The police have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities in their communities.