Taiwo Popoola
Residents of Kogi, Nasarawa, and Niger states have expressed concern over the increasing cases of ritual killings across the country, urging security agencies and stakeholders to take decisive action.
In interviews with the Newsmen, they described the trend as alarming and attributed it to greed, desperation for wealth, weak law enforcement, and the erosion of societal values.
Alhaji Idris Miliki-Abdul, Executive Director of Conscience for Human Rights and Conflicts Resolution (CHRCR), emphasized the need for stricter law enforcement and stronger collaboration between conventional security forces and local security groups such as Amotekun, hunters, and vigilantes.
Mr. Eleojo Opaluwa, a criminology doctoral student, warned that the increasing cases of ritual killings posed a serious threat to society.
He urged better law enforcement and value reorientation to curb the menace.
Dr. Someone Oyiguh, Chairman of Kogi East Neighborhood Watch, identified economic hardship and greed as key drivers of the crime.
He called on the government to create economic opportunities for youths and improve intelligence gathering.
Other stakeholders, including human rights lawyer Nuhu Mohammed and security expert Dr. Abdullahi Jabbi, highlighted the role of poverty, unemployment, and weak policies in fueling the crisis.
They stressed the need for economic reforms, social interventions, and better security measures to address the problem.
Meanwhile, Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, stated that the state had not recorded recent confirmed cases of ritual killings, though an ongoing investigation was being conducted into a recent murder case.
The residents urged parents, community leaders, and government agencies to take proactive steps in instilling moral values, strengthening law enforcement, and addressing the root causes of ritual killings to safeguard the nation’s future.
