Prevalent Ritual Killings in Southwest Nigeria: A Call to Action

By: ALABI Qozim Diekola (MCPN)

Ritual killings have become a pervasive and disturbing trend in Nigeria, particularly in the southwest Nigeria, most especially in cities like Ilorin, Oshogbo, Ibadan, Lagos and Abeokuta. This heinous practice, driven by the desire for quick wealth, power, and fame has left countless families shattered and communities traumatized.

Nigerian government, under the leadership of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu (GCFR), and the Senate must take immediate action to address this issue.

The ritual killings are often linked to false promises of quick riches and success made by unscrupulous individuals among the Alfas, Pastors and the herbalists. Youths, in particular are vulnerable to these promises, which are exacerbated by the lack of fear of God. The current legal system in Nigeria has been criticized for being inadequate in addressing the prevalent ritual killings of innocent people, highlighting the need for stricter laws and harsher penalties.

However, it’s commendable that the Nigeria security agencies are trying their possible best, working tirelessly to unravel the culprits behind these heinous crimes. Their efforts have led to the arrest of several individuals in connection with ritual killings across the nation. For instance, in Ekiti State, a suspected ritualist was arrested with human parts, including a cow horn, ATM cards, and a damaged phone. Then, preventing the occurrence of such crime will be much better than investigating the crime ab-initio.

Additionally, the police have also arrested two persons, Akeem Usman and Niyi Ifadowo, for allegedly killing an 18-year-old 100-level Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) student, Quadri Salami, for rituals, and the most recent one in ilorin where one AbdulRahman slaughtered Miss Afsor, a final year student of Kwara State College of Education, ilorin. All dangerous tools used in committing the crime were said to be found in his thearter room.

These several arrests across the nation demonstrate the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force and Civil Defense Corp in thier attempt to mitigate the prevalent ritual killings.

To mitigate or eradicate this heinous crime in Nigeria, the government at all levels, civil society, and all individuals must come together to address the root causes of this disdainful scenario.

This includes:

– *Enacting Stricter Laws*: President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the Senate should pass legislation that imposes severe penalties on those convicted of ritual killings.

– *Public Awareness Campaigns*: All local government should prioritize launching of public awareness campaigns to educate the general public about the dangers and consequences of ritual killings.

– *Education and Job Creation*: Government at all levels should invest in education and job creation initiatives to reduce poverty and unemployment, making the youths less vulnerable to false promises.

– *Strengthening Law Enforcement*: Ensure that law enforcement agencies are equipped with modern technology to investigate and prosecute cases of ritual killings.

The time to act is now. We owe it to the victims and their families to ensure that justice is served and that such heinous crimes are prevented or mitigated in Nigeria.

ALABI Qozim Diekola (MCPN)