Roasting live animals. Crushing kittens to death. Beheading a goat.  

These aren’t scenes from a grisly horror movie but rather deliberate acts committed by a monstrous man calling himself “Enenie nwa ite” and claiming to be the high chief of a Nigerian village he calls “Ovoko ohagu.” 

The internet is riddled with disturbing content, but the outrageous violence displayed in these deranged videos demands immediate police intervention. Brace yourself, because the details are almost incomprehensible. 

This criminal posts videos of himself beating and starving animals, slowly roasting live animals over open fires, cutting open pregnant animals and torturing and killing their fetuses, slowly splitting puppies open and torturing them to death while they scream in agony, and setting living animals on fire. And there’s more. 

One recent post shows this barbaric torturer crushing a bound kitten, who frantically struggles to escape. Other baby animals are shown being tortured to death in front of their frantic, bound mothers. Many of the videos urge viewers to send “Enenie nwa ite” money and incite viewers to harm animals. 

PETA Asia has called on authorities in Nsukka, which is in the state of Enugu, to take immediate action and remove any animals found in the man’s possession. Nigeria’s criminal code prohibits torturing animals, causing them unnecessary suffering, and wounding or killing them unlawfully. 

Although the police have reportedly opened an investigation into this animal torturer, that’s insufficient—he must be arrested immediately. Each day that this deadly torturer and killer remains free is one more day for him to inflict unbearable suffering on vulnerable animals.  

Violence is a serious problem in Nigeria, where bandit groups control entire regions and residents live in fear. 

This is precisely why law enforcement must treat cruelty-to-animals cases with the utmost seriousness. 

The link between cruelty to animals and violence against humans is well-documented and undeniable. Criminal profilers and top law-enforcement officials agree: Cruelty to animals is a red flag, indicating a high risk for committing future acts of violence. 

Many serial rapists and murderers have a background of hurting animals. Psychiatrists identify committing cruelty-to-animals crimes as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders. There’s no doubt that those capable of such wanton viciousness pose a severe danger to communities at large. 

Nigeria is rich in culture and history, and its residents have every reason to be proud of their country. 

But if “Enenie nwa ite” is allowed to continue torturing, maiming, burning, crushing, and slaughtering animals, the detrimental repercussions will be profound. 

The world is watching. 

Jason Baker is PETA Asia’s senior vice-president of international campaigns.