Christian Empowerment Forum (CEF), an NGO, has urged the National Film and Video Censor Board (NFVCB) to upgrade its censorship standard and clamp down on films and musical videos that promote ritual killings and black power.

Mr Ifunnaya Ogbonnaya, the Executive Director, CEF, made the call in Lagos on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Ogbonnaya said that it had become important for the board to raise its standard of censorship on some content that promote black magic to curb criminality in the society.

According to him, the spate of ritual killings is now alarming, especially the surge in rituals by very young people. This calls for serious concern by all state actors.

“These days all we hear and see on the news is rituals and other forbidden acts in the society.

“What is even disturbing about the spate of ritual killings is the category of people involved in it, which are the youths.

“It is even more disturbing that teenagers are going into such gruesome, forbidden and abominable act of ritual killings all in the name of getting rich.

“It’s high time we look beyond the failing family unit and task stakeholders to purge the system of this menace by applying stiffer measures and punishment to those caught in the act,’’ he said.

The NGO director said that the NFVCB should strictly censor visual contents that have more negative impact on viewers.

“Musical videos that promotes quick wealth, use of black power, voodoo, nudity and all types of negativity should be censored,” he said.

Ogbonnaya also urged the board to peg financial punishment on television or radio stations involved in promoting such films and videos.

He said that the society and celebrities needed to be more conscious of the negative impacts some of their content are adding to the minds of frail youths and teenagers.

He noted that where the source of wealth could not be identified, such affluence should also not be publicised by celebrities.

The NGO director cautioned parents and guardians against mounting unnecessary pressures on their children and wards to make wealth and get rich.

He advised that though the economy is hard, it is not enough excuse to pressure children and wards to indulge in forbidden acts that are morally despicable and punishable by law.

“All this gruesome killings we see happening today did not just start from the moment the perpetrators are caught.

“It started even before the acts are carried out and to a large extent the so-called celebrities, parents and guardians are to blame,’’ Ogbonnaya said.

He further said that no matter the economic pressure, parents should not pressure their child into trying to make wealth at all costs even to the extent of killing another human being.

“Because when we hear the confessions of those caught, it is painful that parents and celebrities as well as role models are contributors to these acts.

“We all are saddled with the responsibilities to raise the next generation or else we will also be in danger of our own society,” the NGO boss said.

He called on government at all levels to proffer solutions to youth redundancy and unemployment by creating job opportunities and conducive environment for innovation.

He commended the youths involved in comedy productions and other innovations that boost self-reliance and sustenance.

He urged the youths to use their various arts and entertainment to sensitise against ritual killings, black power, rape, homosexuality, lesbianism, cultism, yahoo-yahoo and other societal ills. (NAN)