The Niger State Police Command has arrested 31-year-old Ahmadu Jiya of Gbafu for allegedly exhuming his maternal grandmother’s corpse for ritual purposes, alongside four accomplices.
According to the command’s spokesman, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the suspect obtained the skull of his late grandmother to use in a money-making ritual.
He explained that on July 19, 2025, acting on credible intelligence, police covert operatives arrested five suspects in a hotel in Bida with a human skull, allegedly intended for use in rituals.
The other suspects were identified as 70-year-old Mohammed Ndache of Nagya, Edati; 21-year-old Abubakar Mohammed of Duma area; 20-year-old Ali Mohammed of Tsyaduka, Gbako LGA; and 25-year-old Mohammed Adamu of Edati.
Abiodun disclosed that, during investigation, it was discovered the skull belonged to Ahmadu Jiya’s maternal grandmother, who was over 90 years old at the time of her death.
The Police spokesman revealed: “He (Ahmadu) exhumed the corpse and obtained the skull in order to make quick money, to settle debts of over two million naira he had accrued over time.”
He continued: “On presenting the skull to the herbalist, Mohammed Ndache, in the company of his friend, one Mohammed Adamu, and hearing the terms of the ritual, he (Ahmadu) decided that he couldn’t comply with the terms and returned to his village with the skull and hid it in his residence.
“After two years, his friend Mohammed Adamu, who earlier accompanied him to the herbalist, approached Ahmadu in company of another individual, one Abubakar Mohammed, that they needed the skull urgently and were ready to buy the skull.
“Ahmadu sold the skull to Abubakar Mohammed and Mohammed Adamu for N100,000 and collected an advance payment of N40,000.”
The police spokesperson further stated that the duo of Abubakar Mohammed and Mohammed Adamu then approached Mohammed Ndache, who introduced them to Ali Mohammed, a suspected money-doubler, who charged them N500,000 to perform the rituals with the skull.
He added that when the suspects didn’t see results, they demanded a refund and met Ali at a hotel in Bida, where the Police arrested them.
All the suspects were subsequently taken to the State CID Minna for discreet investigation.
