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It needed more than bravery to watch to an end the grisly video clip of a young father who allegedly beheaded his two little children for money rituals in Asaba, Delta State, which trended last week.
There was also another similar footage; this time, it was in Abia State where another young man beheaded his 57-year-old father for the same money ritual purpose.
The shockwaves of the gruesome killing of 24-year-old Salome Adaidu in Nasarawa by her supposed lover, Timileyin Ajayi, will reverberate for a long time to come. Ajayi not only allegedly murdered the lady for rituals, he also chopped her body into several pieces.
Such shuddery reports of money-making ritual killings and savagery are becoming a daily occurrence in the country.
These constitute a contemporary grave societal issue in Nigeria, claiming innocent lives and perpetuating fear, mistrust, and moral decline. The root causes of these heinous acts are multifaceted, including greed, poverty, ignorance, and twisted spiritual beliefs.
Ritual killings typically involve the use of human parts in occult practices, often fueled by the belief that these acts bring wealth, power, or protection. This practice has historical roots but has been exacerbated in recent times by societal pressures, unemployment, and moral degeneracy.
The craze for easy wealth has set family members against one another, as fathers use their children or wives and vice versa for the money-making rituals, which more often than not result in unending grief and sorrow.
Only a fortnight ago, a prominent hotelier in Osun State was handed a date with the hangman for the alleged murder of a former post-graduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in Osun State. This was a reenactment of the Otokoto saga in Imo State years ago when a hapless lad was killed while hawking. The rest is history though, but unfortunately, it seems that the evil gang is regrouping in that once serene South-east state.
The question that begs for answers is whether the devil can make someone rich, using the blood of the innocent. Indeed, the concept of attaining wealth through ritual killings has long been a subject of fascination and fear in many cultures around the world. In some societies, stories abound of individuals reportedly striking deals with the devil, offering human lives in exchange for riches and power. But is there any truth to this belief, or are people being deceived into committing heinous crimes under false expectations?
There is no credible evidence to support the claim that wealth can be supernaturally obtained through ritual killings. Wealth creation is a complex process, which typically involves factors, such as education, hard work, innovation, and sometimes divine favour. While it is true that some individuals may gain riches through unethical means, such as thievery, corruption, or exploitation; these are rooted in human actions rather than supernatural forces.
Claims of ritual wealth often crumble under scrutiny. Alleged beneficiaries of these practices are rarely able to provide concrete proof of their supernatural dealings. Instead, their supposed wealth often turns out to be a mix of exaggeration, coincidence, or outright fraud. A case in point is in risky Internet scams or illicit drug dealing.
The idea of gaining wealth or power through supernatural means is not new. Historically, many cultures have entertained the notion that wealth can be obtained through pacts with dark forces. Money-making ritual killings have assumed an alarming trend in Nigeria of late, claiming innocent lives. Fear and ignorance are powerful tools in sustaining the belief in ritual killings.
In many cases, the lack of scientific understanding about success and wealth creation allows myths to flourish, resulting in superstitions and fear of the unknown often taking the place of rational explanations.
This haunting nightmare has arrested many youths on a quest to get rich quickly. Mostly, some young ‘runs girls’ also in the bid for sharp money end up as victims, as their supposed lovers or ‘windfalls’ garble and harvest their body parts for the heinous enterprise.
One of such girls recently escaped death by the whiskers when a vigilant suspicious hotel staff mobilised help for her rescue. She had already been stripped naked and gagged, and about to be slaughtered by her ‘lover’.
Women are more vulnerable to ritual killings obviously because they get easily swayed by fake promises of love or lust for material and financial gain, only to realise too late that all that glitters is not gold.
Such was the case with numerous women, who were slaughtered by supposed lovers and used for ritual purposes in the recent past. The list is endless but a few would suffice: In January 2022, four teenagers were arrested for allegedly slaughtering and burning the head of one Sofiat Okeowo, who was identified as a girlfriend to one of them, for money rituals in Ogun State. In 2021, Elohor Oniorosa, 29, was killed by her boyfriend, David Osaretin, for ritual purposes in Edo State. The same fate befell a 20-year-old Sofiat Kehinde, in 2020; she was killed by her boyfriend, Sadiq Owolabi, for ritual purposes in Oyo State. Jennifer Anthony, a 20-year-old woman, was, in 2019, also killed by her boyfriend, Gabriel Idibia, for ritual purposes in Benue State. In 2019, a 22-year-old woman, Favour Daley-Oladele, was reportedly killed by her boyfriend, Owolabi Adeyemi, for ritual purposes in Ogun State. Another 27-year-old woman, Joy Meyer was also killed in 2018, by her boyfriend, Tope Alade, for ritual purposes in Lagos State. Also, 21-year-old Olayinka was killed by her boyfriend, Abdulkareem Yakubu, for ritual purposes in Kwara State, in 2017.
Women who manage to escape or were rescued carry lifelong psychological scars. Also, the loss of loved ones to ritual killings has a ripple effect, f
The moral fabric of Nigerian society seems swallowed up and devastated by gripping superstition. The youths now believe that the road to stardom is to roll in piles of money irrespective of how it is gotten. The matter is not helped by a complicit dysfunctional society that celebrates ill-gotten wealth.
This evil stems from moral bankruptcy and shows upbringing deficiency. Sadly, parents who failed in their parenting responsibilities are sometimes victims of ritual attacks and killings by their renegade children.
It is feared that due to the acute hardship in the land, many more people are falling victims of ritual murder, either as direct, brainwashed participants or direct preys used for the gory sacrifice.
The consequences of ritual killings are numbing. Innocent people, including vulnerable groups, such as children have been kidnapped, tortured, and murdered for money rituals. Families are torn apart, communities are traumatised, and the cycle of poverty and yet ignorance continues.
Furthermore, these crimes undermine societal trust and perpetuate harmful stereotypes about certain groups or professions. In some cases, they even distract from addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality.
The notion that the devil provides wealth through ritual killings is a hazardous myth that feasts on human fears and vulnerabilities. Rather than offering a path to prosperity, it leads to violence, loss, and societal decay. By challenging these beliefs and addressing their root causes, we can create a world where wealth is seen as the product of effort, ingenuity, and integrity, not bloodshed and deception.
Money-making rituals are driven by a combination of factors, including desperation for wealth, spiritual misconceptions, poverty, and a lack of societal accountability. Addressing this crisis requires a proactive, multidimensional approach, involving education, societal reorientation, spiritual enlightenment, and strong enforcement mechanisms.
Additionally, the government must deploy a holistic and comprehensive arsenal. This includes economic empowerment through job creation, Strengthening the legal systems and law enforcement, and providing access to mental health resources, which can help individuals cope with feelings of inadequacy or desperation and thus reduce the likelihood of resorting to harmful practices. Grounded initiatives that involve parents, community leaders, traditional rulers, and religious figures can also help challenge harmful cultural beliefs and promote positive values.
Money-making ritual killing is complex and multidimensional. It reflects deep-seated cultural, socio-economic, and psychological challenges. While the path to eradicating this menace is fraught with difficulties, a concerted effort by governments, communities, and individuals can bring about meaningful change.
By addressing the root causes and promoting a culture of empathy, morality, and critical thinking, societies can move closer to a future free of such depraved inclinations.
