There have been growing concerns about the obnoxious increasing trend of ritual killings across Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the heightened situation of ritual killings is driven by the quest for quick wealth, poverty, unemployment, and lack of effective legislation.

There have also been sustained calls for stronger laws against ritual killings to effectively stem the tide of the menace.

There have also been appeals for plausible economic empowerment programmes and public awareness campaigns to deal with the dastardly phenomenon.

Analysts have posited that the government, civil society, and individuals must work together to address the underlying factors and put an end to these heinous crimes.

In Katsina State, the residents have urged the government to provide a death sentence against ritualists and those found selling or eating human parts.

They made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina.

The residents said the call has become imperative in view of the increasing cases of ritual killings, particularly in some parts of the country.

Ayuba Inusa, a resident of Katsina, said that was the only way to prevent the people from joining the ritual and cult groups.

He said: “Since the perpetrators have no mercy, they deserve to be treated with no mercy, to serve as a deterrent to those willing to join the groups.”

Inusa further stressed the need for the traditional and religious leaders to intensify efforts in preaching against the ugly act.

On his part, Malam Kabir Tukur, advised the people against the desire to accumulate worldly materials using such inhumane and ugly methods.

He said, “That is because most of the victims were those who want to accumulate material things easily and anyhow.”

Tukur further urged parents to be monitoring their sons and daughters and discourage them against such bad habits to prevent them from becoming victims of such circumstances.

He also urged girls and women to be wary of friendship in the social media, saying, “because most of the victims were easily caught up through that platform.”

Another respondent, Grace Jacob, also urged girls to desist from going to the persons they met through the social media to avoid becoming victims.

She further urged the government to provide stiffer punishments against perpetrators of those barbaric acts.

In Kaduna State, the Police Command said it has recorded zero ritual killing in the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

He said, “This remarkable achievement is a testament to the state’s unwavering commitment to combating this heinous crime.

He said the command has not received a single complaint of ritual killing in the past three years.

According to him, the ways to curb this incident include stopping hard drugs’ abuse, public enlightenment, and addressing youth motivations.

“The command’s proactive approach to preventing ritual killings has included increased patrols, intelligence gathering, and community engagement,” Hassan said.

He advised that the youths should be engaged with the local communities to raise awareness about the dangers of ritual killings.

Hassan said, “Religious leaders have a role to play in educating the public about the importance of upholding human life and the sanctity of human dignity.”

He said the youths should be engaged on education and job creation programmes, as well as counselling services to address anxiety and other mental health issues.

“We will continue to prioritise the safety and security of  citizens,” Hassan said.

In Kano State, some experts have called on community leaders to collaborate in efforts to combat ritual killings, urging action to address the underlying factors driving the crime.

Some of the residents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), urged the government at all levels to address the crime.

One of them, Musa Abubakar, a lecturer at the Kano State Polytechnic, attributed the increasing frequency of ritual killings to economic hardship and widespread poverty.

According to Abubakar, these challenges have driven many, especially young people, to seek alternative, albeit criminal means of wealth acquisition.

He said that the high unemployment rate has led to increased desperation, with some individuals believing that ritual sacrifices may offer a shortcut to financial success.

Abubakar said: “Moral decay is on the rise. If this decay is not addressed, it could lead to an increase in other forms of criminality.

“They include human trafficking, organ harvesting, and cult-related violence, further destabilising the nation.”

A public affairs commentator, Isa Muhammad, stressed the importance of collaboration between the security agencies and community leaders to curb these crimes.

“Community policing initiatives should be expanded to encourage local participation in crime detection and reporting.

“Vigilance groups should also be involved in monitoring suspicious activities,” he said.

Isa further emphasised that traditional and religious leaders must take a strong stance against immoral practices, while educational institutions should enforce ethics that all the students must adhere to.

An activist, Hajiya Amina Ali, also called for the intensification of public awareness campaigns and the enactment of stricter laws to create a safer and more secure society.

She stated that the high unemployment had fuelled desperation, with some resorting to ritual sacrifices as a shortcut to wealth.

Similarly, Abdulrazak Abdullahi, a lawyer, expressed concern over the growing incidents of ritual killings, highlighting a shift in values where human life was no longer sacred.

“The increasing prevalence of ritual killings suggests a dangerous shift in societal values, with people willing to engage in barbaric acts for personal gains,” Abdullahi said.

He urged the law enforcement agencies to act proactively rather than only responding after crimes have been committed.

Abubakar then called for closer cooperation between the Police, judiciary, intelligence agencies, and community leaders to dismantle criminal syndicates behind these killings.

“The government should strengthen legal frameworks, improve law enforcement, and ensure the swift prosecution of offenders,” he added.

(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Leonard Okachie

A High Court sitting in Abia has granted former two-term Gov. Theodore Orji, his son, and three others bail in the sum of N50 million over an alleged N47 billion fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, arraigned the former governor, and his son, Chinedum, a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, and Dr Philip Nto, a former Commissioner for Finance.

The others are a government contractor, Obioma King, and a former Director of Finance in the state, Romanus Madu.

The defendants are facing a 16-count charge related to the alleged misappropriation of N47 billion.

EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired to steal and converted about N47 billion meant for various state programmes as contained in the charge sheet No: HU/69C/2024.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants misappropriated N22.5 billion, allocated as security vote from 2011 to 2015.

The prosecution told the court that the defendants allegedly stole N13 billion from a loan facility granted by Diamond Bank, as well as illegal conversion of N12 billion from the Paris Club refund.

The defendants are also being accused of committing unlawful act and abuse of office to the tune of the sum of N10.5 billion, being the proceeds of the loan facility granted by First Bank Plc for the benefits of Abia Government.

The defendants also allegedly stole and converted the sum of N2 billion being the proceeds of the Central Bank of Nigeria Funds for Small and Medium Enterprises allocated to the state.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Lilian Abai granted the defendants bail in the sum of N50 million and adjourned the case until June 18 and June 19, for prosecution to open its case. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Kevin Okunzuwa

By Mark Longyen

The ECOWAS Court on Thursday dismissed a suit filed by a Nigerian woman, Lovina Adonor, seeking to compel the Federal Government to pay her reparation for the destruction of her shrine.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adonor, a self-acclaimed priestess, had filed the suit marked: ECW/CCJ/APP/61/22, seeking the enforcement of her fundamental human rights against Nigeria.

Adonor had in her submission claimed that her shrine was attacked and vandalised by some private individuals, forcing her to flee the community due to threats to her life.

She also alleged that the Nigerian government failed to provide adequate protection, investigate her complaints, or address the destruction of her religious materials and property.

According to the applicant, the incident was tantamount to the violation of her right to propagate her religion, the right to security, and the right to own property without discrimination.

She had argued that such violated rights were encapsulated under ECOWAS basic texts and international human rights instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).

Delivering judgment, however, Justice Sengu Koroma, the Judge Rapporteur, declined to grant the applicant’s prayer for any reparations or order for perpetual injunction against the respondent.

The court held that Adonor failed to establish a direct connection between the alleged violation of her rights and the Nigerian government or its agents.

The court further held that Nigeria had adequately investigated the complaints, while the individuals responsible for the alleged acts were private citizens, who had been detained and later released after due process.

“Additionally, the Applicant’s claims under Article 3, 6, 12, 14, and 21 of the ACHPR are dismissed for lack of facts sufficient and evidence to warrant relief sought thereunder.

“Furthermore, the National laws, such as Section 43 of the Nigerian Constitution, are outside of the Court competence,” the court said.

The court explained that after reviewing both parties’ submissions, it affirmed its jurisdiction to entertain the suit because the case pertained to alleged human rights violations within an ECOWAS member state.

It added that the application was admissible, because the Applicant had sufficiently demonstrated her victim status, and also met the necessary procedural requirements.

The three-member panel of the court which has Justices Ricardo Gonçalves (presiding); Sengu Koroma (rapporteur); and Edward Asante (member), ordered that both parties would bear their own costs.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza