Panic at Minna Cemetery as Stray Dog Triggers Rumours of Grave Desecration

An unusual incident at the Kpakungu Muslim cemetery in Minna, the Niger State capital, sparked fear and widespread rumours on Wednesday evening after a stray dog entered the burial ground and began digging at a grave.

The incident occurred around 6pm when the animal reportedly forced its way through the cemetery fence, alarming the security guard on duty, who immediately raised an alert.

Residents in nearby homes rushed to the scene, initially believing an intruder had trespassed into the cemetery. The tension eased only after it became clear that the disturbance was caused by a dog, not a person.

Amid confusion and heightened emotions, the animal was attacked by residents and later killed outside the cemetery fence.

One eyewitness described the atmosphere as chaotic, saying people feared something more sinister was unfolding before the situation became clear.

However, the incident quickly took a darker turn as rumours spread across Minna later that night, with claims circulating that a human suspect had been caught and burned while attempting to exhume a corpse.

The speculation drew a large crowd to the cemetery, prompting concern among local authorities.

In response, the cemetery’s security guard released a video denying the claims, insisting no human intruder was involved.

“Myself and others who came when I raised the alarm killed the dog. No human turned into a dog to dig any grave here,” he said, urging residents to disregard the rumours.

He added that similar incidents involving dogs attempting to dig graves had occurred several times in the past, stressing that the false narratives should stop.

The Niger State Police Command also confirmed the incident, backing the security guard’s account.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the command received a report at about 8:15pm on January 22 that a dog had trespassed into the Kpakungu burial ground and attempted to dig a grave.

He said officers from the Kpakungu Division were immediately deployed to the scene to restore order after a crowd gathered.

“This is contrary to claims circulating in public that a human entered the burial ground to exhume body parts,” the police spokesperson stated.

The police warned that the spread of unverified reports could trigger unnecessary panic and urged residents to rely on official information.