Ritual killing and brutal mass murder of citizens by dare devil gunmen have been on the increase in Nigeria, in recent times. These ritual killings are not special preserve of any particular area or group in the country; every region, tribe and state has its own share of the scourge. Ritual killing is an old tradition in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, however the increase in incidences of ritual connected killings in Nigeria should be of concern now to every citizen because civilization had proven such beliefs in ritual irrational and impotent and hence, there should be no need for the rituals and sacrifices anymore. Unfortunately, some Nigerians, Africans, still hold on to such beliefs and indulge in the use of human parts for sacrifices and rituals. These set of Nigerians are responsible for the increasing spate of ritual killings. There are four groups involved in these dastard acts:
- Those
seeking political powers at all cost who believes that human hearts and
other parts are vital in the making of charms that would either sustain
them in power or make them ascend
- Those
who desperately need to make money, and brainwashed into believing that
using or getting the human parts will make them get so rich or to amass
wealth.
- The
traditional healers who believe that human body parts including eyes,
genitals, breasts and tongues have mystical powers, with many believing
they bring riches and other good fortunes.
- The
final group is those who believe that performing a human sacrifice will
bring good luck or atone for the bad deed they have done.
We,
in the Humanist Association for Peace and Social Tolerance Advancement
(HAPSTA), as humanists, are CONCERNED and WORRIED that the government is doing
enough or taking seriously these wanton killings. INDEED, it won’t be wrong to
say that nothing serious is being done to put the killings under check or
salvage the worrisome situation. It is our sincere opinion that the ritual
killings are the result of the belief in and efficacy of spiritual forces,
which make people to seek to explain the world in supernatural terms and
wanting to look outside nature for help and salvation.
A
survey of the incidences of the killings leaves one puzzled as to the rationale
for the need for such belief and practice, considering that it is crude man inhumanity
to man and gross violation of victims’ right to life. For instance, on 6th
February 2013, the Oyo State Police arrested one Gbenga Taiwo who conspired
with his friends Ganiyu Lukman and Kareem Afeez to kill one Kalifat, his lover
and a businesswoman for money ritual. She was lured, drugged and murdered in
her sleep. Her body was then cut into pieces and set ablaze in a ritual rite. In
another occurrence, some suspected ritualists in Eruemukowharien community of
Delta State murdered a popular monarch in the area. The ritualists removed his,
the monarch, genitals and intestine and deposited his body by a river bank.
Also in Asaba, a female junior high school student was murdered with her pubic
hair shaved off and her ears removed by the ritualists.
Another
reported case of ritual killing is the one involving two brothers, Omotola
Ajayi and Toyin Ajayi, both residents of Festac Town, Lagos. The brothers were
arrested and under investigation when incriminating exhibits were found in
their residence. Exhibits found include the decapitated body of a male victim,
bowls containing blood and sacks containing human parts, one dry human skull
and one fresh human skull. The decapitated corpse was found floating in the
bath closet with the head severed, hands cut off and the feet severed from the
knees. The brothers are suspected to be serial ritual killers.
On
April 13, 2012 a lifeless body of a woman was found along Katampe-Kubwa
expressway in Abuja at about 7.30 in the morning. The corpse was headless,
while some delicate body parts were severed from her body. In another scenario
in Akure, the Ondo State capital, a 25years old Samuel Olatunji was paraded by
police authorities in January for killing Adeoye Dovo, a hunchback senior high
school student for ritual. A similar case is the killing of a 20-year old man
Jacob Afolabi, who was allegedly beheaded by his close friend, Tobi Ojo in Osun
State. Ojo also severed the private part of the victim.
One
of the high profile cases of a ritual killing for political gains was
prosecuted in January 2010 in Jigawa State. A High Court in the state sentenced
to life imprisonment the former Information Commissioner in the state, Alhaji
Abba Umar Kukuma for an alleged involvement in the killing of two children for
ritual. (Currently the judgment is under cross examination at the Appeal Court.)
In
all of the cases, there is no justification for the killings. However, the
rising case of ritual killings and human sacrifices says something about our
humanity. Though, it might be difficult to explain but some Nigerians seem to
have lost the humanness that is inherent in all men. With the current
situation, the solution goes beyond looking unto the government and security
agencies but lies in the citizens being renewed. Proper orientation concerning
the value of individual lives and the fundamental human right to life of every
Nigerian has to be guaranteed and jealously protected. Individual should be
taught to appreciate the value of human life and be conscious that even in
those extreme cases that they are desperate to gain power, amount wealth,
attain physical and/or mental health; human life is and cannot be used as means
to such ends. The attainment of a civilised and sane society filled with
individuals who value human life and are committed to respecting human rights
is what interests us as humanists and an organisation.
Humanists
are concerned with securing justice and fairness in society and with
eliminating social intolerance. The promotion and adoption of humanist ethics
is a viable solution to the tumultuous situation in the country as humanist
ethics is amenable to critical and rational guidance that enhances cultivation
of the arts of applying reason to solving human problems. If we adopt the
humanist principles of social coexistence, Nigeria and Nigerians will be better
for it. INDEED, a humanistic and tolerant Nigeria is possible. We must WORK
TOGETHER and RID Nigeria of ritual killers!
-
Adeyemi J. Ademowo and Babatunde
Elegbede , For HAPSTA
Join
efforts to rid Africa of Ritual Killing/Murders
Through:
*Enlightenment *Whistle-Blowing *Prosecution
Contact:
Humanist
Association for Peace and Social Tolerance Advancement (HAPSTA)
Suite
31 Elim Vission Plaza,
Opposite
U.I. Second Gate
P.O.
Box 19665,
U.I.P.O.,
Ibadan
ARK-C
Hotline: +2347059177468
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