Justice Onome Marshal-Umukoro of a Nigerian High Court has sentenced one, Onuwa Ijie to death, while Nwanozie Uzor has been sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment.
They were found guilty of murdering Chidalu and Chigozie Agwunobi, twin boys aged seven, and conspiring to commit their murder.
The prosecution, led by Mrs. Paula Akpoguma, a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Justice, presented five witnesses whose testimonies established the guilt of the defendants beyond a reasonable doubt.
Tragedy struck the family of Olise Agwunobi from Oko-Ogbele Community on March 5, 2020, when the defendants lured the twin boys into a bush where they gruesomely mutilated them, cutting off their genitals, eyes, tongues, and hands. These body parts were swiftly taken to a traditional healer in Aguleri, Anambra State.
Mrs. Akpoguma disclosed that one of the defendants had initially attempted to abduct the twins from their school, but was thwarted by their teacher, Mrs. Emelda Ezekwude.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Marshal-Umukoro affirmed that the prosecution had successfully proven its case.
He emphasized that the first defendant’s confession had instigated the second defendant’s involvement in the heinous act, linking them to a network searching for twins to sacrifice for financial gain.
The judge ruled that the law clearly permits the use of testimony from investigating police officers, dismissing claims of it being hearsay.
After the ruling, Mrs. Akpoguma expressed gratitude to the court for upholding justice, stating that the outcome underscored the effectiveness of the judicial system.
Recent headlines have been dominated by the alarming surge in ritual-related killings, particularly among the younger generation in Nigeria.These gruesome acts not only signify a profound erosion of morals, norms, and values but also shed light on the emergence of ritualism as a significant social issue in Nigeria. The desire for wealth and an extravagant lifestyle, often fueled by the portrayal of opulence on social media platforms, has said to have contributed to this disturbing trend.
Eleven Ogun residents lost their lives and their body parts sold by ritualists to human parts merchants in the last 13 months. Specifically, the state recorded 15 cases of ritual killings between January 2022 and January 2023. Twenty-four suspected ritualists were arrested while two were set ablaze by an angry mob.
Two residents escaped from being killed by ritualists who intended to sell their body parts to buyers. The worrisome development perhaps made the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, to urge trado-medical practitioners in the state to wade into the issue and end the ugly act. Pathetically, 14 days after the plea by the governor, a mother of two was brutally murdered and her body parts sold.
Also in a development, a Magistrate’s Court in Ado-Ekiti, South West, Nigeria, has ordered the remand of three individuals from Agbado-Ekiti—Sunday Obasuyi (42), Akinniyi Ojo (51), and Bobade Sunday (51)—following their alleged involvement in the abduction and tragic murder of 82-year-old Michael Obasuyi. The charges they face, which include conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder, have stirred national shock and concern.
Police prosecutor Akinwale Oriyomi detailed the disturbing events, accusing the defendants of orchestrating a malicious plot that led to Michael Obasuyi’s abduction on February 1st at 11:00 am in Agbado-Ekiti.
The community remains deeply affected by the severity of the crime, awaiting developments in the case with anticipation. Justice for Michael Obasuyi and his bereaved family is now a pressing concern, with the public eagerly hoping for a swift resolution to the proceedings.
Psychologist, experts warn of rising ritual killings
Psychologists and experts are alarmed by the increasing ritual killings in the country. Mr. Shehu Ahmed Liman, a respected psychologist, is deeply worried and calls it a serious problem.
He says as societies change, their values change too, leading to more bad behavior and less discipline.
Liman says we need to educate everyone about these issues because society is always changing. Families are the most important part of society, and they need to teach good values. Young people learn from older people, so families are very important.
Liman also says the government needs to be a good example for young people. He says young people need to trust the government and learn from them. If young people don’t trust the government, they can’t be good leaders in the future.
Liman thinks we need to teach good morals now so young people can be good leaders later. He says young people in Nigeria look up to rich and famous people who got rich quickly. This makes them do bad things and puts them in danger.
Comrade James Uneze, who leads a group of African students, agrees with Liman. He says young Nigerians should find honest work and not do illegal things like internet fraud. He says you can get rich without breaking the law and thinks it’s wrong to use joblessness as an excuse for crime.
Felix Ade-Frank, who writes about public affairs, also thinks it’s a big problem. He says parents and the government are to blame for the bad things young people do. He says kids need love and security from their families and the government to grow up right.
Ade-Frank says the government is not leading well and cares more about making money than helping the country. He says crimes like fraud and killings show that parents and leaders aren’t doing a good job.
Ade-Frank wants everyone to work together to stop fraud and crime. He says these things hurt everyone and stop people from getting ahead in life. He says people who do bad things will get caught eventually, just like in economics when things stop working well over time.