Liberia: Man, 24, Arrested for Grave Burglary in Buchanan

Elton W. Tiah

A  24-year-old man, identified as Emmanuel Davis, has been arrested and detained for allegedly burglarizing graves at the Sugarcane Farm Cemetery in Buchanan.

Davis was apprehended by members of Buchanan City Police after a complaint was filed by a community dweller who asked not to be named, but expressed concern over the rise in criminality within their community.

Davis was detained for hours until he admitted to the police that breaking graves to get steel rods has been his way of earning a living in Buchanan for years.

Davis informed the police that he’s going to desist from his criminal actions and rebuild those damaged graves.

“I have been breaking graves for some time now to get the steel rod and other items and sell them just to get food. I am pleading with the police to forgive me because I have decided to stop breaking down graves as of today’s date,” he confessed. 

It is unclear as to whether the young man has been set free, but in-house sources informed our reporter that Davis was set free due to his commitment to repair the damaged graves.

However, locals have called on authorities to provide maximum security protection, adding that the continuous vandalism on graves will create future health hazards for them.

According to them, the criminals are said to be using cemeteries as hideouts, as they unleash their criminal activities in Sugarcane farm and other parts of Buchanan.

The residents are calling for a fence to be constructed around the main cemetery, with a gate and assignment of security officers, so as to avoid the area being used as a hideout for criminals.

A similar incident occurred months ago at the Gunnigar’s Town Cemetery, in which unknown men broke into a grave.