Fear of epidemic has gripped Usung Atiat, an agrarian community in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State following the desecration and public disposal of the remains of one of their kinsmen.
The corpse of one Aniefiok Daniel Bassey was said to have been exhumed on the orders of the village council Chairman, Chief Aniedu Thompson Okon, on allegation that the deceased failed to pay the fine imposed on him for the offence he committed while alive.
It was gathered, the late Bassey, 61, allegedly committed a crime against the community before his death, forcing the traditional authorities of the village led by Chief Okon, to invoke sanctions which included payment of some items to the community, but he failed to pay before his death.
The items, it was learnt, include one she goat, tubers of yam, a jar of palm wine, one crate of soft drinks, one carton of beer, one bottle of kaikai (local gin), one bottle of Lords Dry gin, garden eggs, one bottle of snuff, alligator pepper and other condiments including a bundle of firewood to cook the meal.
According to a local resident and member of the village youth group, Akan Inyang, “prior to the burial date, the village chairman had sent a letter to the bereaved family warning them of consequences for failing to provide above items before interment.”
Another resident, Mr Mfon Udo Udo explained that the items needed by the village were a penalty against the deceased for an alleged offense he committed in the community when he was alive.
The letter reads in parts: “Failure to bring the items for committing an abnormal act, the burial should not be conducted in the village.”
But the family was said to have ignored the threat letter and continued with the funeral as the family did not understand the ‘’abnormal act’’ as contained in the letter.
He recalled that “After the burial, the village chairman stormed the deceased compound with local thugs firing gunshots into the air and exhumed the corpse dumped it along the village footpath where it decomposed .with foul smell all over the place.”
He lamented that “such act was outright desecration of the dead which would require another round of rituals to rebury and appease the gods to avert calamity in the family and entire community.”
Lamenting the ill-treatment of his father, Mr Uduak Effiong Bassey, has cried out for justice, demanding the village council to re-bury his father or face the law for desecrating the dead.
In a petition titled: “A case of desecration of corpse and unlawful possession of arms perpetrated by the village Chairman – Aniedu Okon Thompson and four others,” Uduak urged the state government to intervene and save the community from impending doom and health hazard as the corpse had already decomposed in the village.
The petition dated 27th September 2021 signed by deceased’s son and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Thursday stated that urgent steps should be taken to avoid epidemic in the community while the culprits should be brought to book.
He recalled that those who perpetrated the act on behalf of the village monarch, according to him, could be identified: “Akifa together with me were able to identify the above persons desecrating the remains of the late Aniefiok Bassey, firing gunshots into the air and eventually dumped the corpse by a bush track and covered the grave,” he stressed.
It was learned that the petition addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Amiengheme Andrew, at Ikot Akpan Abia headquarters, was lodged first at the Divisional Police State, Ikot Udo Obobo for onward transmission to the headquarters.
When our reporter contacted the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Odiko MaCdon on telephone, he said the command was yet to receive the petition and so could not act on the matter.
“The Command has not received any petition or official report on the incident, but once we receive such complain, we would act accordingly,” he said.
