12 May 2009

Ritual killings around some places in the capital city Abuja are becoming worrisome to both residents and relevant authorities of the capital city. Some months ago the body of a lady was found under a bridge in Wuse from where she sells recharge cards in Area 11.

Her eyes and one of her breasts were removed. A forthnight ago, three bodies were found in Wuye in a river after they were slaughtered . Also, seven mutilated bodies have reportedly been discovered between Area 1 and Berger Junction. There are many other similar cases not known to the general public.

Ritual killings are causing serious apprehension as some of them are always carried out in very quiet and isolated places, according to our findings. According to a resident, Mr. Amos Badmus, "the security of some of these places needs to be tightened, the people who perpetuate these acts are aware that some of these places lack adequate security and they can carry out their act without being noticed".

A senior police detective who preferred anonymity told Weekly Trust that police investigation revealed that only two corpses were found in Wuye, not three as widely reported, and that they were slaughtered not for ritual purposes. He said the dead men were identified to be casual labourers who work in construction sites. "The reason why the police arrived at the conclusion that the people were not murdered for ritual purposes is that no part of their bodies was missing and was no sign in the corpses to indicate ritualistic aspect."

He said it is also possible that the dead men were identified to be carrying valuable items or huge sums of money. "They were murdered and their properties were stolen," he said.

Mr. Nduka Okafor, a resident of Wuye, said he has lost all faith in the security system. "It is something we have to live with for a very long time because the culprits are the ones dictating whatever goes on in the country. They should also not forget that there are cases where it is just the blood of innocent victims that are needed for their evil deeds."

Notwithstanding the efforts being put in place to check the menace the ordinary man on the street is still sceptical of the positive outcome of such efforts.

"We have lost hope, we are no longer safe in our country, we are at the mercy of poverty, starvation, armed robbers and ritual killers, it is we the ordinary people who suffer. The big men will never be kidnapped and used for ritual killing. We have no other choice than to be at the mercy of the Almighty," Mrs. Ainat Balogun said. Another resident in Kubwa told Weekly Trust that "it is unfortunate that innocent people have to be wasted just because of the greed of getting rich."

The police detective said killing of humans for ritual purposes is not very rampant in the Federal Capital Territory because of intensive monitoring of movement of people by the police. He said the police have devised information gathering strategy on all kinds of crimes including ritual murder that will make it difficult for the perpetrators to succeed.