SOCIOLOGICAL UNDERPINNINGS OF NIGERIAN YOUTHS AND RITUAL KILLINGS FOR MONEY

Abstract

Alarmingly, despite the most recent wave of innocent people being ceremonially slain, government officials are doing little to nothing to stop the human hunters. The ritual killers stalk the countryside in search of human remains such as heads, breasts, tongues, and sex organs, which are required by witch doctors, juju priests, traditional healers, and/or occultists for questionable sacrifices or the creation of other magical elements. Given the development of Christian activity and modern civilization, one may anticipate that such irrational activities are based on mythology or ancient folklore. However, it appears that ritual killings are increasing as a way to placate the gods or goddesses. These terrible atrocities are being committed in the twenty-first century as other countries experiment and advance in technology. The goal of this study is to increase public awareness of the gravity of this tragedy and propose remedies for Nigeria's worrisome increase in ritual killings, particularly among young people. The study defines ritual killings and explains their nature and purposes, in addition to providing a socio-ethical analysis of ritual killings. It condemns the behaviour and calls on the government and other organisations to put an end to this heinous conduct.