Ritual killings spike across Nigeria with multiple high-profile cases in recent months

Nigeria has seen a concerning spike in ritual killings and gruesome murders in recent months. On May 15, police arrested 40-year-old Onyebuchi Anikwe in Enugu's Igbo-Etiti LGA for allegedly killing his 60-year-old mother with a cutlass in a suspected ritual murder. In April, Kwara State police arrested a suspect who had exhumed a relative's skull for illegal body parts trade. January brought three separate cases: three suspects remanded in Osun for ritual murder of an FRSC officer and her daughter, and Friday Akonobi arrested in Anambra for the abduction and ritual murder of 6-year-old Ozioma Nwankwo, connected to an Enugu-based native doctor.

Police attribute these successes to intelligence-led policing and inter-agency collaboration. Commissioner of Police Ojo Adekimi confirmed Kwara State's commitment to apprehending criminal elements. Religious leaders point to systemic issues: Islamic scholar Ustaz Jamiu Aro blames constitutional protections that allow ritual killers to go free, while Pastor Hezekiah Olujobi attributes the increase to political cycles and demonic practices for power and wealth.

Psychologist Dr. Leonard Okonkwo attributes the trend to Nigerian society's celebration of wealth regardless of how it's acquired, noting perpetrators often suffer psychological denial and guilt. Security expert Dr. Davidson Akhimien recommends making security education part of the curriculum from primary through university levels, and advises using recognized cab services and hotels with CCTV monitoring. This surge in ritual killings coincides with Nigeria's political season, suggesting election-related motivations may be fueling the increase.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/05/26/ritual-killings-other-forms-of-gruesome-murder-worsen-in-nigeria/