Yobe Communities Decry Desecration Of Graveyards

Residents of Jakusko and Potiskum towns in Yobe State have strongly condemned the rising cases of grave desecration in the areas, prompting a police investigation.

LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that on Thursday, a grave was found open at Makwalla Cemetery, and the body was exhumed by unknown persons.

The village head of Jakusko, Alhaji Gremah Lamido, made the condemnation when he led other community leaders to the divisional police headquarters in the area on Tuesday.

He described the act as “unholy and unacceptable,” and assured the police of the community’s support and cooperation to track down and arrest the perpetrators.

Speaking in the vein, another district head, Baba Lamido, also urged residents to resist all forms of ungodly acts and work closely with security agencies to prevent a recurrence of such cannibalistic and immoral behaviour.

Lamido appealed to the public to promptly report any suspicious activity or movement around cemeteries to the police for necessary action.

He added: “I want to use this great opportunity to inform you that we are not happy at all. This is a big issue going round in the state so far; we don’t know what would happen next if care is not taken. I want to call on politicians to stop what they are doing now. This is not our behaviour in both religions.”

He called on the governor of the state, Mai Mala Buni to deploy more security personnel to cemeteries across the state due to the insecurity affecting Jakusko and Potiskum graveyards, and urged security agencies to probe the escalating cases of desecration.

One of the affected families in Potiskum local government area, Mallam Aliyu, described the act as inhuman and unacceptable, urging state and local government authorities to look into the matter and bring the suspects to book.

He also urged governors across the country, particularly in Yobe State, to address the security and maintenance of graveyards. He said the concerns include the need for security personnel to prevent daily criminal activities, as well as renovation and proper management of burial grounds.

He condemned the act and pledged the community’s support to help police track down the perpetrators. He encouraged residents to stay vigilant, avoid actions that undermine communal values, and report suspicious activities around burial grounds.

A credible source in the state government told LEADERSHIP Weekend that authorities have ordered increased security deployment to cemeteries, which have increasingly become havens for criminal activity, thereby threatening public safety.

The government is considering deploying armed security personnel to the graveyards in Jakusko and Potiskum. Our correspondent reports that the incidents, including the exhumation and removal of corpses, have been described as “unholy and unacceptable” by community leaders.

However, Governor Mai Mala Buni, while reaffirming his commitment to overall security, approved funds for graveyard renovations across local government areas.

LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that the latest incident occurred in Potiskum when the Divisional Police Headquarters received a distress call from community members reporting that unknown persons had trespassed into the Nahuta graveyard, exhumed the grave of a child, and escaped with the corpse.

The command, in a statement by its public relations officer, expressed deep concern over the alarming trend and noted the rising cases of grave desecration in the state.

The spokesperson quoted the commissioner of police, Mr Emmanuel Ado, as commending community leaders for their proactive engagement, cooperation, and support.

The commissioner strongly condemned the heinous and barbaric acts, describing them as nefarious and unacceptable.

Also speaking to LEADERSHIP Weekend  in Potiskum, a village head who did not want his name in print said last year’s flood washed away part of the Potiskum cemetery, desecrating a substantial portion of it.

He added: “Let me tell you that this is an indication that we are not in a place where people can tolerate or accept each other. We see more exclusion, more segregation, and that is what really grieves us in this town of Potiskum.”

In a significant development, the Jakusko divisional police headquarters on 17th november 2025 received a strong delegation of community leaders led by the Village Head of Jakusko, Alhaji Gremah Sabo Lamido. The delegation included ward heads, prominent personalities, and members of the Council of Ulamas, who visited the cemetery to seek divine intervention and express deep concern over the desecration of a grave by unknown criminal elements.

The delegation strongly condemned the act, describing it as unholy and unacceptable, and assured the command of the community’s full cooperation in exposing those behind the crime.

The leader of the delegation, Alhaji Gremah Sabo Lamido further urged residents to resist all forms of ungodly acts and work closely with security agencies to prevent any recurrence of such cannibalistic and immoral behaviour.

Respinding, the  commissioner of police, CP  Emmanuel Ado, commended the community leaders for their proactive engagement, cooperation, and support.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to working with community stakeholders to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and to forestall future occurrences.