Some residents of Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger states have decried the spate of ritual killings in parts of the country and called for concerted efforts by security agencies and other stakeholders to curb the menace.

Some of the residents who spoke to journalists on Wednesday in Lokoja, Kogi, described the trend as worrisome and detrimental to the growth and development of the nation.

They attributed the cause of such heinous acts to greed, get-rich-quick syndrome, laziness, loss of family values and parental support.

Idris Miliki-Abdul, the executive director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflicts Resolution (CHRCR) Lokoja, stressed the need for strict implementation of the law to address such criminal tendencies.

Mr Miliki-Abdul also said robust collaboration between conventional security and local security, such as Amotekun, hunters groups and vigilantes would go a long way to tackle the menace.

He added that increased and consistent education, awareness and value reorientation were necessary to reduce the threat to the barest minimum.

Eleojo Opaluwa, a Doctoral student in Criminology and Security Studies, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), said although ritual killing in Nigeria was as old as the country itself, the recent scourge was worrisome.

He attributed the upsurge to the loss of societal values, parents’ celebration of wealth in their children’s hands without questioning its source, and their quest for quick riches.

Mr Opaluwa said the menace could best be addressed through proper law enforcement and value reorientation.

“The society is fast drifting into a very dangerous state with a high capacity for destruction. It’s a time bomb waiting to explode.

“Though the security agencies are, to some extent, doing their best, the attitude of some of the personnel are encouraging this crime.

“Some elements in the police are compromised and take bribes to set free some of these suspects. I think these bad eggs have to be identified and weeded out of force,” Mr Opaluwa said.

He further said that the involvement of regional security arrangements and traditional rulers in fighting the menace was key, given that every crime happens in the communities.

He noted that though there were extant laws, the major problem remained the weak enforcement.

“All Nigerians are endangered species. The rate of youth victims will be high because of its demography,” Mr Opaluwa said.

Also, Simeone Oyiguh, the central coordinating committee chairman, Kogi East Neighborhood Watch (KENW), said the main cause was greed and economic hardship.

He emphasised that the rising menace indicated a dangerous drift by the society and its people if it was not adequately addressed.

Mr Oyiguh urged the government to create economic opportunities for the youth to prosper in order to address the menace.

He urged more intelligence gathering on the activities of criminals and traditional witch doctors involved in using girls and women for rituals.

He further stressed the need for parents to consistently sensitise and educate girls on the antics of ritualists in order not to fall victim.

“Even though the security agencies appear to be doing their best to curb this menace, the effort to reduce ritual killing should not be left to security agencies alone.

“The governors of the states mostly affected should show tremendous interest in this issue and how their offices can be used to deal with the problem.

“There is a need to also improve intelligence and deal appropriately and professionally with those caught in the act of using women and children for ritual practices.

“Regional security arrangements and involvement of traditional rulers will also help to effectively address the menace.

“To me, there are no laws and sanctions enough to deter perpetrators;  the penalty should be death,” he said.

Dare Olukaiyeja, an elder statesman, said the rising cases of ritual killings were fueled by the public display of the proceeds of greed and the acceptance by the significant members of the society.

According to him, the destructive drift in values, morals and complete breakdown of the family status started way back.

“The menace of ritual killings is so rampant because of the rat race for wealth, greed, parental support, especially mothers.

“It is even worse in some states where I heard they have an association of ‘Yahoo’ mothers.

“The place of drugs in the life of our youths is also fueling the menace,” he said.

Nuhu Mohammed, a legal practitioner and chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Kogi state branch, said the rise in ritual killings was a very dangerous drift to the Nigerian society.

Mr Mohammed highlighted poverty, desperation for wealth, competition among the youth, and lack of proper home training and peer influence as precipitating factors for the rise in ritual killings across the country.

“Though I quite agree that security agencies are doing their best, however,  their best isn’t good enough.

“They need more training in areas of cybercrime and on how to apprehend their herbalists/spiritual accomplices,” he said.

Also, the chairperson, Kogi NGO’s Network (KONGONET), Idris Muriana, said the recent rise in the menace of ritual killing reflected the weakening state control and desperation for wealth.

“There is an urgent need for our security agencies to take more severe measures of increased surveillance and intelligent gatherings with a view to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators of ritual killings.

“There is also a need for the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to do more continuous campaigns in schools towards changing the mindset of our youths against the “get-rich-quick syndrome”, with the civil society organisations also raising their voice to curb the menace.

“Government should ensure strict regulation of the movies industry in Nigeria to guide against contents that tend to glorify ritual killings.

“Movie directors should consciously seek to make the moral point that ritual killings and, by implication, traditional religion are bad while modern religion is a source of clean energy requiring non-human sacrifice.

“Members of our political elites who are supposed to be role models regularly visit shrines to swear oaths, ask for a deity’s blessings or seek spiritual defence against political enemies.

“This culture has been there, and it needs to change.

“Government should help clamp down on fake clerics, herbalists and native doctors who create enabling environment for the ‘Get-Rich or Die Trying Culture, ” he said.

In Nasarawa state, a cross-section of residents called on parents and guardians to instil good morals and values in their children to prevent them from engaging in ritual killings.

They called on parents to take responsibility for the proper upbringing of their children, citing the need to curtail the rising ritual killings in the country.

Aisha Mohammed, a resident of Lafia, emphasised the need to go back to the basics and teach children the importance of human life and dignity.

“Parents have a critical role to play in shaping the values and morals of their children,” she said.

John Ogah, another resident, challenged parents to provide a stable and nurturing environment for their children.

“Children who are properly brought up and educated are less likely to engage in criminal activities, including ritual killings.

“The government should provide access to education, healthcare, and economic empowerment for parents and caregivers,” he said.

Sarah Emmanuel, a community leader, corroborated Mr Ogah’s position, stating that the government’s support for parents and caregivers was crucial in preventing ritual killings.

She noted that while Nasarawa state had not experienced rampant cases, proactive measures were necessary to prevent such incidents.

She emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts among parents, caregivers, and government in preventing ritual killings and promoting a culture of respect for human life and dignity.

Meanwhile, SP Ramhan Nansel, police public relations officer (PPRO) in the state, said Nasarawa had not recorded any confirmed case of ritual killing in recent times.

He added that the case of a suspect who was recently arrested for killing and dismembering the body of a lady was under investigation to ascertain the motive behind the crime.

The police spokesperson, therefore, assured that the command would continue to work towards protecting the lives and property of the citizenry.

In Niger, a security expert, Abdullahi Jabbi, urged governments at all levels to come up with robust policies to address the ever-increasing spate of ritual killings.

He stated that it had become imperative to come up with good policies if the nation’s quest to tackle the ugly situation headlong was anything to go by.

The expert argued that ritual killings and other social vices bedevilling the country were mostly caused by poverty and a lack of good policies to make livelihood better for citizens.

Mr Jabbi added that such policies as wealth creation and a policy that brought about economic opportunities for the vulnerable groups for their survival were needed.

“You see, there is no part of the world that will not experience what is happening here if the economic survival is not guaranteed.

“What follows is negativity, which is what the country is experiencing today.

“So, government at all levels must do everything possible to come up with policies that take care of people in terms of intervention in social security and grants to enable them to engage in meaningful ventures.

“If you ask me, that’s the way to go. And on the part of the security agencies, they should up their game by discharging their responsibilities without fear or favour,” he added.

The expert also urged various state governments to ensure that the dividends of democracy trickled down to the masses who suffered the most economic hardship.

He noted that the unemployment rate among the youth was very high and urged governments to look into that too to avoid a situation of restiveness among them.

“So, I advise our governments to address the problem of unemployment and others headlong if we are to address these burning issues frontally,” Mr Jabi advised.

(NAN)