The alarming rise of ritual murders among Nigerian youth
In recent months, Nigeria has witnessed a disturbing surge in ritual murders, a horrific trend that now ensnares our youth.
Once thought to be the domain of hardened criminals, these heinous acts have infiltrated the lives of teenagers and young adults, including university students.
The case of Damilola Olowoyo, a 17-year-old undergraduate at the Federal University, Lokoja, exemplifies this grim trend. Recently, four young men were arrested for her murder, with the prime suspect, Jeremiah Awe, allegedly drugging and luring her to a remote area for ritualistic purposes.
He informed Damilola’s parents that their daughter had been kidnapped and demanded a ransom to fund the ritual requirements. The prime suspect revealed that he had met the native doctor through TikTok. According to William Aya, the Public Relations Officer for the Kogi State Police Command, three accomplices—Barnabas Olugbenga, 20, Ajani Ayomide, 20, and Emmanuel Otitoju, 24—were involved in the crime.
This chilling trend is not isolated. In August, 21-year-old Mojisola Awesu, a graduate of the Kwara State College of Health Technology, was lured to a hotel in Ilorin under the guise of attending a party for her girlfriend. For her troubles, she was paid N15,000, only to be killed by her deceivers, with four men currently on trial for her murder.
Other horrific cases illustrate the breadth of this issue. A middle-aged man, Alfa Ahmed, was reported to have slaughtered his visually impaired grandfather and ill uncle in Ibadan, Oyo State, for an alleged money ritual. In a similarly shocking incident, a 20-year-old named Ridwan killed his father for ritual purposes in Oshoku village, Ijebu North Local Government Area, Ogun State.
The trend extends back further, as evidenced by the 2021 arrest of Kenneth Sylvanus, 24, Chibuzor Amadi, 33, and Chijioke Ogbonna, 37, for the beheading of a nine-year-old child in Rivers State. On Christmas Eve of that same year, 29-year-old teacher Elohor Oniorosa was murdered and dismembered by her boyfriend, David Osaretin, for suspected ritualistic reasons in Edo State.
In a chilling case from 2019, Favour Daley-Oladele was brutally murdered and mutilated by her boyfriend, with the assistance of a prophet, in a desperate attempt to secure wealth through ritualistic means. This incident highlights a harrowing trend: the victims of these gruesome acts are often young women, revealing a disturbing gender imbalance in the epidemic of ritual killings.
The statistics tell a grim story. Research from the West African Network for Peace Building found that Nigeria recorded 185 ritual-related deaths between January 2021 and January 2022, involving 43 women and 30 children across 80 cases in 20 states. Civil society groups and local media have consistently reported on the heightened vulnerability of women and girls to these horrific crimes, amplifying the urgency of the issue.
This crisis prompts us to reflect on where Nigerian society has faltered. The moral fabric of our communities seems to be fraying, allowing a tragic normalisation of rituals for wealth among the youth. The seductive lure of quick riches has overshadowed the traditional values of hard work and integrity.
Sadly, the mantra that “education is a scam” resonates with many young people today. This is particularly troubling when political leaders and other influential figures flaunt wealth gained through dubious means, inadvertently sending a message that shortcuts to success are acceptable. Such examples set a dangerous tone, fueling a reckless pursuit of money that endangers our society’s future.
Youth unemployment is at a staggering 53.4 percent as of 2024, leaving many young individuals without legitimate opportunities and increasingly vulnerable to criminal activities. The pervasive mindset of “get rich quick” is exacerbated by a corrupt political landscape, further entrenching these challenges.
The decline of family structures and parental guidance has also contributed to this rise in crime. Disturbingly, instances have surfaced where parents are complicit in their children’s illegal actions. A notable case from 2021 involved a mother arrested for assisting her son in a N50 million internet fraud scheme in Lagos, highlighting the erosion of moral teachings within the family unit.
In Ogun, a prophet named Peter Ifatosin was arrested as part of a gang allegedly involved in human trafficking and money rituals. Similarly, in 2022, police detained a pastor, Felix Ajadi, and two others for their involvement in the abduction and dismemberment of a 39-year-old man.
Criminal networks, often supported by secret cults and corrupt elements in the banking sector, operate with alarming ease, facilitating illicit transactions. Shockingly, some landlords even prefer to rent to suspected criminals, driving up property prices in their areas. This impunity reflects a deep systemic decay affecting various sectors of society.
To combat this growing menace, efforts must be intensified. Law enforcement agencies should broaden their scope to include not just the perpetrators but also those who enable these crimes. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the police’s cybercrime unit should collaborate more effectively, enhancing their intelligence-gathering capabilities to dismantle these networks.
Encouraging whistleblowers to report suspicious activities is crucial, and establishing a discreet reward system can motivate citizens to aid law enforcement in apprehending criminals. Only through a united front can we hope to reclaim our society from the grips of crime.
Those implicated in ritual murders should not find refuge under juvenile delinquency laws; they must face the full force of justice.
Recently, an 11-year-old was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for shooting a former mayor and his daughter, illustrating that accountability knows no age. Nigeria could benefit from adopting a similar approach.
The battle against ritual murders transcends government and law enforcement; it is a collective obligation.
We must restore moral values and celebrate those who achieve wealth through honest means while condemning those who choose the path of crime. We must act swiftly to prevent an entire generation from becoming ensnared in this cycle of corruption and violence.
The motivations behind these ritual murders are deeply concerning. The intertwining of greed, desperation, and a toxic fascination with ritualistic practices creates a dangerous environment.
Close acquaintances, driven by the promise of financial gain, are betraying their friends and peers, leading to a cycle of violence that is hard to comprehend.
The time has come for communities, parents, and authorities to unite against this disturbing trend before it escalates further.
