If you were born in the late 1990s and in the early period of the new millennium, you’d recall the increasing concerns for children to desist from receiving any unmerited gift from strangers or hitching a ride in the vehicle of any person you lack familiarity with. It was a fair reaction from parents and guardians who were horrified after seeing the news of the gruesome killings of young persons all over the country. Within this period, they were gory news of kidnapped pupils and students who were found dead later by the police with mutilated and dismembered body parts never ceased both in the official announcements and in rumors. The popular colored television disseminated such news daily, and so does the radio and the papers. The television happened to be a more effective mode to trigger the appropriate shock waves through Nigerians. Naturally, it is an unwritten culture for Nigerian families to gather together after the ceremony of heavy supper to watch the 9’0 clock news in the rampant hunchback Television at that time. The news of mysterious abductions and the butchering of humans, the stealing of life human body parts at the request of a frail uneducated witch doctor for the sake of money, power, or fame continued to make rounds on the news reports. Mothers would tear their kids with a knowing look that often spelt, “I told you so, now look how they’ve wasted this one.” One would presume that the ugly occurrences had sprung up mightily at the start of a new century; however, this isn’t the fact. The increased news of recorded abductions and subsequent ritual executions were quickly reported to the public as more technologies made the distribution of information much faster. Unbelievable discoveries have been made several times that exhibited the sadistic tendencies that greed and the pursuit of ill wealth and power could lead a conscious human. In March 2014, a forest of horror was uncovered in Ibadan, Oyo state, where a structure was revealed to be littered with the different body parts of humans, a cellar filled with skulls and skeletons, and a room of men and women held captive. Similarly, in 1996 a famous Chief Duru fondly called “Otokoto” was caught by the police in the Eastern Nigerian city of Owerri with the severed head of a young boy with the name Ikechukwu Okonkwo. The devilish ritual patterns aren’t made solely with the head of a human. It goes beyond severing heads to vital organs like the heart, private parts, and even the eyes, as in the case of a young lady named Adlyne Eze who had both her eyes plucked out for money rituals by two men in the city of Calabar. The magnifying issue of ritual killings by some members of the Nigerian public begs the question, “Why Rituals?” Why Rituals? A specific answer might fail to satisfy the question of why some individuals would choose to offer the lives of their fellow countrymen in the altars of bloody means. The Nigerian environment and the African outlook in totality are based on the primordial beliefs that one might choose to term as a defiant approach to rational devotion.   The lofty quests for power, fame, and wealth can transform a docile Nigerian Deacon to a deleterious schemer seeking artificial means to garner power or wealth. The depreciating standard of living in a nation that is presupposed to be the giant of Africa isn’t helping matters. Desperate times they say, call for desperate measures. Since the responsiveness of the orthodox outlook of a religion like Christianity isn’t particularly guaranteed to be faster than the ancient methods, the latter is often considered a more practical stand. However, since the traditional system seems to have lost relevance without a coherent regulatory framework, the outcome of a desperate witch-doctor and client combo results in the loss of innocent lives in rituals. A Systematic Approach to a Remedy? An understanding that an unhealthy approach to spirituality bedevils the Nigerian environment is required to devise ways to escape this prevailing menace. A system where it is perceived that the divine, no matter the origin, is in charge of life and the proceeds thereof.   Unless we are ruggedly armed or backed by the heavy assurance of strong bodyguards behind us, we are not expected to stand down on our guard or reduce our consciousness of potential danger lurking around. Our emotions, most especially greed, fear, and anxiety, should be kept in check in public places as dubious persons are capable of sensing your emotional inconsistencies and use them to trigger you into taking actions that might cost your life. However, the bigger solution comes in when the leaders of our society takes responsibility for the safety of the lives of Her citizens. The government should exert efforts to understudy the role of tradition and culture in the psychological setup of the average Nigerian. Furthermore, after the study, a body of knowledgeable men and women that are aware of the customs and traditions of every single ethnic group should be established. This committee will strive to gather all traditional medicine makers and witch doctors. The committee, after completing this step, should set up a regulatory framework for the native custodians to follow, defaulters of the established policies would be adequately punished.   Of course, the foremost rule that should be enforced is a ban on using any human, man or woman, slave or free, rich or poor, able or handicapped to conduct any ritual upon the altars of bloody means.     Mbam Chukwuemeka can be reached through mbamchukwuemekaa5@gmail.com

  In the build-up to this essay, something had been brewing in me; rage! Yes, rage! One thing provoked this essay. The provocation was premised on the recent killing of late Iniobong Umoren by a suspected ritualist, Uduak Akpan. Ms. Umoren was an Akwa-Ibom-based job seeker and graduate of Philosophy from the University of Uyo. According to police reports, Mr. Akpan had asked Ms. Umoren to meet him at a particular location in Uyo on the promise of a job; only for the unsuspecting lady upon getting there to be raped, killed, and her remains buried in a shallow grave. Ms. Umoren’s gruesome death was not just a case of rape and murder; it also involved ritual killing. VANGUARD alleged that Mr. Akpan’s entire family is said to be involved in the barbaric business of ritual killings1. What even irks me the most remains that the suspect, though in police detention, seemingly appears to be living well and looks fresh by the day; is treated with dignity, is granted press interview, given a change of clothes, some of which even bears the words, “the murder squad.” This inadvertently leaves me with lots of questions in mind. Anyway… I must now cage my emotions to resist the temptation to deviate from the essay topic. Killings for ritual purposes have assumed an alarming rate in Nigeria, such that late Umoren’s death becomes one out of numerous cases identified across the country. Yet, the heinous crime continues unabated despite the proliferation of religious houses in every nook and cranny of Nigeria. To this end, this essay examines the rising spate of ritual killing(s) in Nigeria. It investigates its root causes and proffers suggestions on ways to curb the evil crime. But be warned; some readers may find some part of this essay pretty disturbing. Overview Usually, targets of ritual killings are people with albinism, the physically challenged, virgins, lunatics, women, and children.  It’s alleged that the mentally challenged and virgins are sought after because they make for a more potent sacrifice. Albinos have been rumoured to have their body parts and blood provide for wealth and longevity. Ritual killers go in search of human parts like the head, heart, genitals, breasts, eyes, hands, and feet at the request of herbalists or witch doctors, whose clients cut across politicians, fake clerics, church owners, government officials, and businessmen. The human parts are gotten from kidnapped and slain victims. Most ritual killers usually pose as commercial bus drivers, who would later hypnotize and take their victims (under blindfolds) to their slaughterhouses whereafter, vital organs would be harvested. Ritualists also disguise themselves as lunatic. These wolves-in-sheep-clothing use this strategy to get at unsuspecting victims. Some ritualists get human parts in connivance with cemetery guards. Others according to the VANGUARD buy them from some markets in Nigeria2. Reported Incidents of Ritual Killings and Possession of Human Parts On 10th February 2021, 14-year-old Abdullahi Bello was murdered in Didanga village in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area (LGA) of Bauchi state after being lured to a bush path where his head was cut off and the body covered with sand. According to reports, the suspect was arrested while trying to get whom to buy the deceased’s severed head3. In the same state, a 6-year-old girl had her genitals mutilated for ritual purposes. The suspect, a 19-year-old Abdulkadir Wada was later arrested3. Also, Oyo State Police Command on 21st June 2019 arrested one Dotun Ogunlade for the murder of his Facebook friend. He claimed to be a spiritual healer and prophet and had been chatting with the deceased. Subsequently, the victim was lured to Igbo Ora from Ilorin where she was allegedly injected with an overdose of sleeping drugs, after which she was strangulated. Later, her head and arms were severed and the remains of the corpse buried in a shallow grave as she was meant to be used for money rituals3. On October 6, 2018, the Kwara State Police Command arrested and paraded five suspected ritualists including a couple for having 11 human skulls and several bones. According to the police commissioner, some of the skulls were recovered from the ceiling of the home of the couple, while the others were recovered from the wife’s shop3. A suspected Rivers State ritual killer, Ifeanyi Dike was on December 26, 2017, nabbed by the Police for allegedly raping and killing an eight-year-old girl and cutting off some parts of her body for ritual purposes. The suspect, was on his way to dispose of the remains of the girl before he was arrested. He was later identified to be a relative of the deceeased2,3. In Owerri, Imo State, a businessman belonging to a cult was alleged to have used his apprentice for ritual. The boy’s corpse was later exhumed at the premises of his hotel, Otokoto – exposing many bizarre acts in hotels2. In a related development, the VANGUARD reported the arrest of a pastor who allegedly killed a 7-year-old boy and buried his head where the church’s altar was mounted2. From these stories, one observes that ritual killing is not peculiar to any section of the country. No region comes out smelling of roses. Likewise, perpetrators are not limited to age or sex. They transcend different faiths and educational backgrounds and not just amongst traditional fetish illiterates4. One thus begins to wonder what drives the dastardly crime. What Is The Motivating Behind Ritual Killings? Desperation for quick wealth and lust for money is alleged to be responsible.  Ritualists also indulge in the crime to appease some deities through human sacrifices. Evil politicians belonging to various cults also seek power and fortification against attacks through these wicked acts. The spike in ritual killings in recent times is traceable to the total collapse of moral values. Dignity for human life is nothing any longer to some people. Impunity also drives the crime. Since most sponsors are high-ranking politicians and top government officeholders, there is always the air of protection around such perpetrators, making them

  Introduction ‘No blood, no glory’ gained limelight in the popular Mount Zion movie titled, “Abattoir.” In the Faith-based movie, Mr. Durosanya, sacrificed his wife to attain a feat he longed for in the political space. Gbade, who was the Inspector General of Police, happens to be Durosanya’s friend as they both belong to the same cult which warranted the murdering case to be concealed. Afterwards, the phrase, ‘No blood, no glory’ became a popular saying between both parties as they constantly reminded themselves that the ritual killing of human beings is a determinant factor in their sphere of life. Apart from the extremely embedded occult beliefs associated with ritual killings, the vehement proclivity for taking unfair advantages over others has made the slaying of people rampant. So, in contract winning, tendering process, attaining high positions, political races, elections, or anything that deals with unhealthy competitions of any kind, individuals tend to seek undue advantage or edge over others. This makes them go the extra mile with the mindset of getting the job done at all cost. Hence, they do all the jazz it takes, reasonable or ruthless (– in most cases) to achieve and attain their heart desire and consequently, they turn to kill their fellow human beings in the process. CAUSES OF RITUAL KILLING IN NIGERIA Undoubtedly, the outbreak of killings for ritual purposes is becoming more profuse day in, day out, especially in Nigeria where there is an insignificant visible effort from the security agencies who are saddled with the responsibility of protecting the lives of the populace. Judging from the rate at which people are frowning against this nefarious act, one would think the killing of people for rituals should be dwindling; rather, it is on the increase in Nigeria due to struggle for power, influence, wealth, etc. It is so sad that we are combating this act when other countries in the other part of the world are making innovations and advancing in technology. Join me as we take a cursory look at the causes of ritual killings in Nigeria. Political leaders are involved The indulgence of vast number of people in search of power, influence, wealth, etc has been made evident as some political figures and government officials have been alleged by arrested suspects and herbalists who assert that they use humans for rituals to maintain their affluence and also remain in positions of power. [1] A politician who is hell-bent on winning a tightly contested seat, willing and ready to do what it takes in this part of the world visits the ‘science man’ in desperation of his ambition whether deservedly or undeservedly. So sad! Going forward, this is the reason why reports have shown that the cases of ritual killings and losses of persons are unusually high when electoral periods are fast approaching. These scroungers hide under ‘umbrellas’ of any slightest opportunity to get their victims. For a number of them, they abduct people from various points, while few of them, pretend to be commercial bus drivers, and channel unsuspecting commuters to their vehicles at bus-stop just to transport them to their slaughter slabs to carry out their wicked intention.   Make money quick perspective The transition to the era of trading human parts for sale seems to have come to stay. People from different spheres of life now patronize cemetery officials, herbalists, or herbal traders. According to a report by Evelyn Usman on Vanguard, it was stated from information gathered that a fresh human head is valued at N60,000 and above, while a skull could be purchased at N20,000. Not only that, a fresh leg and a finger goes for N30,000 and N5,000 respectively, while a putrid leg could go for N20,000 and a decomposed finger is sold at the rate of 3,000. [2] The money being made in this forbidding way has blindfolded some people. Also, in the nervousness of young Nigerians to join the scores of millionaires without waiting patiently for steady growth in their career path, they sojourn in a crooked way by resorting to the use of charms, mysterious powers, and use of their friends or innocent people for rituals. These rituals are done to enhance the possibility of these young chaps who are fraudsters to hypnotize the victims. The rituals will aid them to be showered with money beyond their imagination by the unsuspecting victim(s). To make fame It is prevalent that people now sacrifice the blood of their fellow human beings to be famous. After making consultation with peers, a person desirous of fame could be misled to meet with a babalawo who would demand to make some charms for him using body parts or some specific set of people which include but not limited to an albino, a baby, someone with a hunchback, etc. The person in search of prominence proceeds to hire a kidnapper or body part merchant who delivers the cadaverous parts which will be used by the babalowo to fabricate his dreadful medicine and charms.   THE SOLUTION With all being said, who sits at the peak in this pile of evil entailed in the killing of people for ritual? Is it the person in pursuit of fame, the politically overwhelmed man, the youths that are in quest for quick money, the body part merchants, the kidnappers, or the herbalists and the witch doctors? As long as they all constitute the menace that makes up the ecosystem, the continued rising of ritual killing in Nigeria and beyond rests on the shoulder of them all. The reason people ‘seek for glory’ fueled with greed, anger, and vengefulness to any detriment has led to the shedding of innocent blood which needs to stop now! Before the topic of this week’s essay contest was unveiled, one of the contending discussions I had with my friends lately centered on how the killing of people for rituals could be combated and reduced to the minimum. What a coincidence I will share my ideas with millions

The spate of ritual killing in Nigeria is alarming. We are left to wonder what is actually wrong and why it seems like the people who should help in curbing this growing monster are turning a blind eye. It’s worrisome that while other countries are experimenting and thriving in technology, Nigerians are looking for the shortest routes to making it in life, thereby endangering the lives of their fellow citizens. This mind-boggling threat can be attributed to reasons like: Poverty and Hardship: The economy is blowing hot and the masses are bearing the brunt as the prices of goods — especially foodstuff — are hitting the roof. Although this is not a justification for one to engage in ritual killings, it seems to be one of the reasons. The collapse of moral value: Nigeria is one of the most religious countries in the world, but it is sad to note that a lot of the populace do not appear to fear God the way they profess. We seem to have a blatant disregard for the sanctity of human life. Get rich-quick syndrome: This is gradually taking root in the minds of people these days. Sadly some people do not want to work hard to get rich, but want instant riches and rituals seem to be the shortest route to quick riches. The quest to sustain affluence as well as to remain in power: Most voodoo priests and human parts dealers that have been apprehended confessed that politicians and prominent people were among their patrons. The simple reason is to gain power by all means and sustain it. We have heard quite a lot of cases springing up in the social media and as usual draw condemnation from the public, which as expected, faded as meteorically as it started. The most painful part is that no matter how much we condemn the barbaric act or even punish the offenders, the life of the person killed cannot be restored. The family of the deceased is left to wallow in grief. In some cases, the killers go free as they remain unknown or where they are known, they protected by prominent people. Worthy of note is that the government agencies that are saddled with the responsibilities of securing the lives and properties of citizens often fall short in curbing the spiraling trend. Needless to say, people from all walks of life, different backgrounds, and different faith are engaged in this dastardly act and for different reasons. What they do is kill another human being as instructed by a voodoo priest to get specific human parts for rituals to be performed just to be wealthy, remain in power, or whatever the case may be. What we can’t understand is if it actually works since most times, when they are apprehended, you discover that the voodoo priest is usually looking unkempt and haggard. The question is, if the voodoo priest, who make people kill another person, can make the killers rich, why won’t they first make themselves rich? This brings to mind the recent case of Iniobong Umorem, a graduate in her early 20 from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, who was lured by a ritual killer after she posted her need for a job on social media. The killer deceitfully posed as an employer and invited her for an interview at a popular location in Uyo. Reports on social media claimed the killer raped, killed, and buried her remains in a shallow grave. She was wise enough to give her friend the killer’s number before she left for the interview, this was not enough to save her life. Her friend raised an alarm after Ms. Umorem was declared missing. The killer was later traced through his phone number and was apprehended.  He confessed that he was not alone in the heinous act and that Ms. Umorem, was not their first victim and there were prominent people among their clients who pay for them to murder innocent victims, harvest their parts — breast, vaginas, eyes, etc— and sell to them. His trade has been to lure innocent people into his den, kill them and harvest the parts for people who will buy them for ritual purposes. One of the questions that swirl through one’s mind includes: What if Ms. Umorem was not wise enough to give her friend her supposed employer’s phone number? Ms. Umorem would have been a case of another missing person rotting in a shallow grave without any trace of her whereabouts. A lot of people have just vanished into thin air with no trace of whether they are dead or alive. It may be hard to accept and move on, but the unvarnished truth is, they might have been dead a long time ago. Killed for ritual purposes and buried in shallow graves somewhere. Never to be found by their loved ones. We do not need to be told to be careful with our movements to avoid falling prey to these monsters. Let us watch out and assess every commercial vehicle before boarding, especially at night. Let us avoid isolated places and make sure someone knows where we are going especially if we are meeting with strangers. The question on our lips now is, how do we curtail this menace that is terrorizing us? I believe that if we do the following, ritual killings would reduce: Beef up security in the country: It’s sad to note that with the tales of ritual killings here and there, we have not heard any decision made by the federal government to curb it. Let the security agencies make conscious efforts at tracking down ritual killers. Empower the youths so that they won’t be lured into making quick riches or be lured as victims of ritual killings —Just like Ms. Umorem, whose only crime was seeking a source of livelihood. Create job opportunities and eradicate poverty. The majority of people are either involved in this dastardly act or have fallen victims because of poverty. Though