Dr. Raymond Edoh calls on Armed Forces to re-strategize on tackling ritual killings in Nigeria

 Dr. Raymond Edoh laments over alarming 

Ritual killings in Nigeria, calls for reorientation amongst youths

The Nigerian Youth Ambassador to the United States of America, Dr. Raymond Edoh has lamented bitterly of the rise in ritual killings which he said is a product of getting rich quick syndrome amongst younger people in the country.

"I’m calling on the security agencies today, especially the Army, Airforce, Navy, Civil defense, and the police to map out a strong strategy on ritual killing. A lot of young people involved directly or indirectly are just ignorant of their acts.

If the baba who is asking you to kill in the name of making money today is right he won’t be poor. Young Nigerians please stay away from this dirty lifestyle of killing.

  I’m also calling on the legislatures to make a quick passing of a law, punishable of persons directly or indirectly involving in ritual killing.

"I’m charging every citizen of this great nation to be part of this movement against ritual killing, from the ward level to local government, state, and the entire federation to be our brother keepers! to report any suspicious persons to either the traditional rulers, police or any security agencies".

The Nigerian-American youth representative made this known in a press release he signed and was made available to journalists in Nigeria by his media aide, Emmanuel Daudu in the early hours of Wednesday.

Stressing further, 

"Cases of ritual killings in the country are fast increasing. Despite the fact that the year is new a lot has been experienced and the heartache and anguish that ritual killings are causing in the country is been coming unbearable. 

Citing a few cases, he said, "Sofiat Kehinde,

On the 4th of February, 2022, four Nigerian men were charged with the murder of a 20-year-old woman in a suspected ritual killing case. The men, who are aged between 18 to 20 years, were arrested on the last Saturday of January for allegedly killing Sofiat Kehinde and burning her head for money ritual purposes at Oke Aregba area of Abeokuta, Ogun State. According to reports, the deceased was dating one of the killers. She was lured by her boyfriend, Soliu, to his room where she was overpowered and killed.

"Similarly, Jennifer Anthony, in the case of Jennifer Anthony; a 20-year-old Moses Oko was been apprehended by the police for allegedly killing her for ritual purposes. Jennifer, who was a student of the University of Jos, was found lifeless at a hotel in Jos, along Zaria Road, on New Year’s Day. Some of her body parts were also harvested. Moses was arrested in Benue State after he fled from Jos for committing the crime.

"Afeez Olalere, another case is that of 32-year-old Afeez Olalere, who is a suspected internet fraudster. Afeez confessed to killing his younger brother for money ritual purposes. He was arrested during a stop and search operation along Itamaga, Ikorodu road in Lagos State by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command. Afeez confessed during interrogation that his mother encouraged him to kill his younger brother after a herbalist she took him to had told him to sacrifice one life which must be his sibling. He had planned with his mother to poison his 21-year-old brother to death. They harvested the required body parts and took his remains to the mortuary amidst many others.

" Hmmm, what a world we are in! In as much as the security systems are playing their roles to a level worth appreciating, the government can do more by creating jobs for these younger people.

"They need something to get them busy, they need to earn, they need to survive. However, parents have a larger role to play on this issue. Parents should monitor and caution their children where necessary to have a generation we can be proud of. Hard work doesn't kill, failing is not for the dead, keep on trying, that's for the younger people. If you don't fail, what experience would you have to share with others?

"We understand the economy is not as fantastic as it ought to be, but don't forget 2023 is around the corner, get your PVC and scout for good leaders. Leaders that have the country and its citizens at heart.

"If others start killing too, who will be left as your neighbor? Who would be left to be your friend? Perhaps you would also be another person's target if not a victim.

"As a youth leader that I am, I plead all of you youths to stop killing, love everyone around, and be contempt with what you have. The fact that you don't have it today does not mean you wouldn't have it tomorrow. Only be patient with yourself and the economy, everything will turn out in our favour.

"Envy, jealousy, drugs, frustrations, pressures could be a few driving forces to engaging in this  ritual killings, yet are not justifiable. 

"Run your life out of all these things and trust me, everything will work out as stressless than you can imagine", he added.

"However, Let me sound this as a warning to anyone encouraging ritual killing in Nigeria that we will get you through Intelligence and you will face the law in a very hard way.

"I want to use this medium to thank all great commissioners of police in their various states commands  and other security agencies for their tireless efforts in Curtailing this evil acts in our country Nigeria".