Man arrested for exhuming stepfather’s corpse, severing head

The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested a 55-year-old hunter, Yusuf Garba, for allegedly exhuming the corpse of his stepfather and severing his head in Tappare Kona Uku, Jada Local Government Area.
The police spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, disclosed on Friday that Garba had confessed to the crime during interrogation.
According to Nguroje, the suspect claimed he was approached by the biological son of the deceased, who allegedly demanded his late father’s head for ritual purposes.
Garba recounted that when his stepfather died, the son had attempted to take the corpse to Jalingo, Taraba State, for burial, but the family opposed the move. A year later, the son reportedly insisted on obtaining the head for traditional rites, pressuring Garba into compliance.
“| took a hoe around 4:00am, went to the graveyard, dug the grave, and cut off the head,” Garba admitted. “I returned home and gave him the head in a polythene bag, and he collected it and left.”
Garba claimed he acted out of fear, alleging that the deceased’s son was a witch who could harm him or his children if he refused.
Two weeks later, the widow of the deceased—who had been inherited by the biological son—complained of disturbing dreams since the head was stored in their bedroom. In response, Garba said he instructed her to bring a chicken.
He then exhumed the body again, slaughtered the chicken, and poured its blood on the decomposed remains to stop the nightmares.
“After | performed the ritual, | cooked the chicken and ate it. | did that about four years ago, but because | had a disagreement with Benjamin, he reported the matter to the police,’ Garba added.
Nguroje confirmed that Garba was arrested following a complaint from Benjamin Jatau, who accused him of exhuming the grave and severing the head.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Morris Dankombo, has ordered a thorough investigation and subsequent prosecution of those involved.