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The Rise of Ritual Killings Amidst Declining Moral Values.

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Rituals, as defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, are a set of actions or words performed regularly, often as part of a religious ceremony.

The Oxford Dictionary defines killing as the act of causing death, especially deliberately.

By these definitions, ritual killing can be understood as the deliberate act of taking another person’s life as part of either a religious or supernatural practice.

Disturbed by the rising cases of ritual killings in Nigeria, the House of Representatives in 2020 called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency to curb the trend.

The then Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu, also urged the then Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to “take urgent steps to increase surveillance and intelligence gathering” to curb the menace through arrest and prosecution of perpetrators.

Additionally, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) was tasked with initiating a nationwide awareness campaign to address the issue.

However, three years later, ritual killings have not only persisted but have seemingly become more frequent, particularly among young people.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, over 150 ritual killing cases -often linked to youths seeking quick wealth– were recorded in just six months.

These alarming incidents have raised concerns about the moral decay and future leadership of Nigeria.

Similarly, statistics from the Nigerian Police paint a grim picture of the crisis:

On Nov. 6, in Imo, a pastor was reportedly caught attempting to kill a woman after already murdering another and removing her genitals.

In Kogi, a 20-year-old man was arrested on Sept.4 for killing a 19-year-old university student and removed some of her body parts.

On Dec. 22, in Ogun State, a 45-year-old suspected ritualist, was found with a fresh human head and dismembered body parts of a female victim in Abeokuta.

In Cross River, a 29-year-old man, allegedly killed his mother, shaved her hair, and dumped her body in a well.

On Aug.10, Police in Oyo State arrested eight suspected serial ritual killers and recovered three mutilated unidentified female bodies.

In September in Lagos State, a 16-year-old boy  lured a four-year-old child into a bush, strangled him and removed his intestines, and private organs.

While on Oct. 1, in Kwara, police discovered the corpse of a teenage girl with her two eyes removed in Ilorin.

Stakeholders have identified several key factors contributing to the rise in the orgy of ritual killings including:

Among these, is poverty and unemployment factor. They said the economic crisis had driven many young people to desperate and criminal acts.

They similarly said the get-rich-quick mentality, where the glamorisation of sudden wealth often portrayed in the social media, had the propensity of pushing  individuals to seek supernatural means of acquiring money.

According to them, the weak law and failure of security agencies to swiftly investigate and prosecute offenders have emboldened criminals.

The stakeholders also listed the factor of societal decadence where some traditional and religious leaders either remained silent or had become complicit in these practices.

Most importantly, they attributed the breakdown of family structure, resulting in the lack of proper parental guidance to the moral decline among youth.

Security expert, Mr Seyi Babaeko, Managing Director of Absolute Security and Advance Protocol Ltd., described the rise in ritual killings as a reflection of deeper socio-economic and cultural issues.

“The desperation for wealth, belief in supernatural influences, and erosion of moral values have fueled this menace,” he said.

Badeko urged government to among others strengthen the criminal justice system for swift prosecution of offenders.

“Government needs to intensify intelligence gathering and surveillance to dismantle ritual killing networks.

“It should launch public enlightenment campaigns to debunk the belief that human sacrifice brings wealth, as well as prioritise job creation to reduce the desperation driving individuals toward crime.”

Another security expert, Mr Christopher Oji, emphasised that ritual killings, particularly among cyber fraudsters (popularly known as Yahoo boys) had  become disturbingly normalised in the Nigerian  society.

“You see a 17-year-old boy driving a N30 million car, and nobody questions his source of income,’ he said.

He blamed government negligence and societal indifference for the rising cases, adding that many missing persons in Nigeria were likely victims of ritual killings.

Oji urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) to scrutinise the sources of wealth among young people.

“The EFCC should go beyond cybercrime investigations and begin questioning  the sudden wealth of individuals, especially youths.”

The Chief Operating Officer of DOHS Care Foundation, Mrs Ololade Ajayi, took to her X (formerly Twitter) handle. @OlolaTohRhea, to highlight how ritual killings often targeted women and girls.

“This reflects violent commodification of female bodies. Women are often lured by individuals intending to either use their genitals or breasts for rituals,” she stated.

Ajayi called for stricter laws and justice for victims, emphasising that femicide(the intentional killing of women due to gender motives) must be addressed urgently.

A cleric, Pastor Victor Oke of the Assemblies of God Church, Oyobo, attributed the rise in ritual killings  to the loss of respect for human life.

” Human life is sacred. No one has the divine mandate to take another person’s life for ritual purposes,” he said.

Oke urged Nigerians to report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies and work collectively to end the menace.

The stakeholders agree that addressing ritual killings requires a multi-pronged approach.

They urged government’s urgent intervention in the areas of strengthening law enforcement, judicial reforms and job creation.

They similarly called on traditional and faith leaders to at all times, publicly condemn ritual killings and emphasise ethical success.

They also urged parents to instill strong moral values in children  to discourage illegal means of acquiring wealth.

According to them, social media have the responsibility of using their platforms to actively counter content that glorifies sudden and unexplained wealth.

All in all, stakeholders agree that addressing the root causes of ritual killings in Nigeria requires a collective effort, with both the government and individuals playing a crucial role in finding lasting solutions.(NANFeatures)

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Gov Adeleke, Osun PDP Caucus Endorses Tinubu’s Re-election Bid

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From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and the leadership caucus of the the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state have endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s second term bid.They assured of working for the success of the re-election bid of the President, who is the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the country.

They made this known on Monday at the Osun State PDP Leadership Caucus meeting held at the Government House, Osogbo.
Similarly, following extensive consultations, debates, surveys, opinion sampling from traditional rulers, community leaders, civil servants, retirees, religious leaders, market men and women, interactions with members of the PDP and the general public across major towns and villages in Osun State, on issues pertaining to recent political development in the state, the Leadership Caucus of Osun PDP hereby reviewed as follows: “That all politics is local, and as such, the feelings and aspirations of voters and party members are critical to decisions on party affiliations.
”That the majority of the members of the APC in Osun State are opposed to the APC, which did not originate from the Governor in the first instance. Some APC leaders based on entrenched interests have demonstrated hostility and resentment towards Governor Ademola Adeleke. Some went on social media and national television to call Governor Adeleke all kinds of unprintable names.”That the majority of PDP members in Osun State are not happy about the idea of the defection of Governor Adeleke to wherever he goes to show their love, support and loyalty to his leadership.”That the state governor, the state government, and the PDP as a political party remain very popular and acceptable above all other political parties in Osun State.”Consequently, the leaders hereby resolve as follows:”That the PDP in Osun State recognizes the fact that Osun State is the ancestral home of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which makes the President the son of Osun State. “Therefore, the PDP in Osun State hereby, adopts, and endorses President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in the 2027 Presidential election.”That PDP in Osun State re-affirm it’s adoption and endorsement of Governor Ademola Adeleke for re-election in the 2026 Governorship election on the platform of the PDP.”That Governor Ademola Adeleke and all members of the PDP in Osun State should remain in the PDP.”That the leadership of the PDP in Osun State is directed to disseminate the resolution to all structures of the party in the state and that, the state governor is enjoined to forge ahead with governance and implementation of the administration’s five point agenda.”

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Kogi Promises to Reposition Basic Education System

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From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Kogi state government has promised to reposition its basic education system as part of its desire to enhance effective learning and providing solid foundation for Children’s education.The state’s Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones gave the assurance during the 2025 matriculation ceremony of new students at the Kogi State study Centre of the National Teachers Institute (NTI) in Lokoja.

The Commissioner also restated government’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at providing quality education at all levels of learning.
Jones emphasised the importance of teacher training, noting that the future of children lies in the hands of teachers.
Represented by the ministry’s Acting Permanent Secretary, Omolayo Berikisu Onozare, Jones appealed to the matriculating students to remain committed to their academics.He highlighted Gov. Ahmed Ododo’s significant budgetary allocation to the education sector, stressing that the training of teachers cannot be compromised under any guise.The Director General and Chief Executive of NTI, Professor Sadiya Daura, said the institute’s programmes were designed to equip students with necessary skills for national growth and development.Represented by the Kogi State Coordinator of NTI, Alh Tijani Yusuf, Daura warned students against indiscipline, emphasising the institute’s zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct.She urged them to strive for impact in their lifetime after training.On his part, the Director News and Publications, Kogi State Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Samuel Atuluku, expressed concern about the “get rich quick syndrome” among young people.Atuluku appealed to parents to ensure proper discipline of their children and wards to change the narrative and secure a greater future for them.The highlight of the ceremony was the administration of the matriculation oath to new students enrolled in NCE, Bachelor Degree, and Postgraduate Degree programs in Education.The event marked a significant milestone for the students, who are expected to benefit from the institute’s programs designed to equip them with necessary skills for national growth and development.

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C’River, NIGCOMSAT Train 200 Youths on VSAT

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By Ene Asuquo, Calabar

The Cross River State Government and the Nigerian Communication Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT) through collaboration is training about 200 youths drawn across the 18 local government areas of the StateIn his remarks at the training workshop in ASUU building, University of Calabar, the Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Edet Otu who was represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Science, technology and Innovation Dr.

Justin Beshel, emphasized that the training of these youths on VSAT technology will advance technological development and create employment for the 200 youthsHe stressed that Cross River is shifting from being the civil service State to a digitally incline State, taking advantage in the demands in the global Space of technology, stating that the 200 youths were drawn from the 18 local government areas of the state through online registrationAccording to Beshel, “These youths are meant to be trained on Very Small Aperture Terminal(VSAT) and also in space technology”.
He stressed further that there is a high demand of labour in this sector and the state is trying to catch- in to create the man power that is needed internationally, maintaining that partnering with NIGCOMSAT, “the youths are brought to be empowered through innovation in satellite technologyIn her opening address, the Managing Director, NIGCOMSAT, Jane Egerton- Idehen who spoke in the event through the programme Coordinator, Maureen Neekwe said the program in cross river is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at equipping young minds with cutting – edge knowledge in satellite technology and digital communicationShe emphasized that the program is designed to foster innovation, enhance technical skills, while creating opportunities for youths in the ever- evolving space – tech industryNeekwe maintained that participants in the workshop will gain practical experience in setting up and configuring VSAT systems.

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