FG, Stakeholders Called to Take Immediate to Check Ritual Killing

By: Michael Mike

A call has gone to the Federal Government and other stakeholders in Nigeria to take immediate action to address increasing rate of killing of girls for money rituals in the country.

The call was made in a statement issued by a Media Executive, Mr. Sunday Oyinloye on Tuesday.

Oyinloye, who is the Publisher of Green Savannah Diplomatic Cable said the Federal Government and other tiers of governments as well as stakeholders should as a matter of urgency move to address the problem of killing of girls for money rituals in the country .

The Media Executive noted that what is at stake is not only how to protect Nigerian girls, but also how to redeem the image of the country that is already stained because of the evil practice, adding that cases of killing of girls for money rituals is on the increase because government at the three-tiers and other stakeholders have failed to address the issue.

Oyinloye added that many youths in the country have since abandoned the right ways of creating wealth to embrace ritual killings which has gradually becoming a norm in Nigeria.

The Publisher, whose organisation started the campaign against killing of girls for money rituals in January, 2022, revealed that it has been a solo journey for three years.

Oyinloye however said running the campaign without support would not discourage him from fighting for the protection of Nigerian girls.

His words: “When my organization started this campaign in 2022 and released a jingle, the then Minister of information Mr. Lai Mohammed said the Federal Government would embark on massive enlightenment campaign against ritual killings, but up till now, nothing has been done about it by the Federal Government, rather I have been fighting this course alone despite the risks involved.

“Our image as a country is at stake, this is why we have taken it upon ourselves as an organisation to translate the jingles we initially produced in English into the three major Nigerian languages. And for the campaign to get to the grassroots, we have started airing the jingles on Radio”

He said if killing of girls for money rituals must end in Nigeria, traditional rulers in the country must speak out against the evil practice.

According to him: ”Traditional rulers and religious leaders can no longer watch as Nigerian girls are being slaughtered like animals by some youths who are not ready to embrace legitimate means of livelihood”
The Media Executive counseled Nigerian youth to shun the temptation of looking for money at all cost adding that they should embrace hard work and think outside the box and do legitimate businesses.

“It is unfortunate that some of our girls are being killed and their body parts being sold at ridiculous prices. It is insane and devilish to take another person’s life in the name of making money which will not even come.
“Why on earth should a man take another person’s life for money rituals when there are business opportunities everywhere?

“Even if there are no business opportunities, it is not right to take another person’s life. I am appealing to our youths in the country to stop this evil practice and embrace hard work. No one should cause sorrow for any family simply because he wants to make money.” he said.

To end the problem of ritual killings in Nigeria, Oyinloye recommended death penalty without option of jail terms for any established case of ritual killing.

He commended the Nigerian police for doing a good job on issues of ritual killings stressing that they need the support of all Nigerians.

He also commended the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari for being the first traditional ruler in Nigeria to give a directive against ritual killings in the country and appealed to other royal fathers to also speak out against the evil which has tarnished the image of Nigeria.

He said: “The Emir of Ilorin has written his name in gold for not only speaking boldly against ritual killings, but for also giving a directive to Imams in the state to preach against ritual killings in their Friday sermons. If other traditional rulers in the country follow this exemplary step, the evil called ritual killings will be eradicated”
“This directive given by the Emir of Ilorin that Imams shouldpreach against ritual killings in their Friday sermons will further encourage me to fight for the protection of Nigerian girls who are mostly the victims of ritual killings.”

FG, Stakeholders Called to Take Immediate to Check Ritual Killing