Police Arrest Man For Exhuming Grandmother’s Skull For Alleged Ritual

The Niger State Police Command has apprehended a 31-year-old man, Ahmadu Jiya of Gbafu village, for allegedly exhuming the corpse of his maternal grandmother for ritual purposes. He was arrested alongside four other suspects.

Spokesperson for the command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Saturday, noting that the incident came to light following credible intelligence which led to the arrest of the suspects at a hotel in Bida on 19 July 2025.

According to Abiodun, Jiya exhumed the remains of his grandmother—who died at over 90 years of age—and removed her skull with the intent of using it for a money ritual in order to clear debts exceeding ₦2 million.

Further investigations revealed that Jiya initially approached a herbalist, 70-year-old Mohammed Ndache of Nagya in Edati Local Government Area, in company with his associate, Mohammed Adamu (25), also of Edati. However, upon learning the terms of the ritual, Jiya reportedly lost interest and returned to his village, where he hid the skull in his residence.

After two years, Mohammed Adamu, together with another accomplice, Abubakar Mohammed (21) of Duma area, approached Jiya and offered to purchase the skull. He agreed and sold it for ₦100,000, receiving ₦40,000 upfront.

Abiodun further disclosed that Abubakar and Adamu subsequently consulted Ndache again, who then introduced them to a suspected ritualist and “money-doubler”, Ali Mohammed (20) of Tsyaduka, Gbako Local Government Area. Ali allegedly demanded ₦500,000 to perform the ritual.

However, when the promised “financial breakthrough” failed to materialise, the group confronted Ali Mohammed at a hotel in Bida. It was there that police operatives swooped in and arrested the suspects.

All five individuals have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Minna for further discreet investigation. The command reiterated its commitment to rooting out ritual activities and other criminal acts across the state.