Ritual killings: Oluwo recommends capital punishment for perpetrators

Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, on Wednesday called for the enactment of a capital punishment law for anyone found in possession of human parts.

He expressed alarm over the prevalent dishonorable quest for money, which has led to the killing of innocent souls in the country.

He argued that the government should impose strict penalties to reduce what he described as an inhumane act.

He said, “The pandemic of ritual killings must be fought with capital punishment. Anyone found with human parts should be sent to the gallows. Such a strict penalty will reset the mindset of the wicked.”

The monarch, who made this known in a statement by his spokesperson, Alli Ibraheem, in Osogbo, stated that implementing such measures would curtail the high quest for money through voodoo and ritual killings, especially among the youth.

Oba Akanbi also called on traditional rulers to wage an aggressive campaign against these practices, stating that the heinous practice has a spiritual connection to the hardships pervading the land.

He recommended that the government establish an institution to check corrupt practices in the traditional system, such as money rituals and cultism, similar to the EFCC and ICPC, which address corruption in official settings.

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According to him, “The alarming rate of killing innocent souls for money rituals calls for immediate action. I read about it daily in newspapers and on social media, and that’s only for those cases that are reported.”

He noted that secret societies, promoted by some traditional rulers and elders, have proliferated cultism among the youth engaged in ritual killings. He urged the government to monitor the activities of these secret cults, which he believes are the root of ritualism.

He described ritual killings as a major obstacle to the progress of Yorubaland, stating that his throne is committed to eradicating such archaic practices.

“As a father to the nation, I have committed my throne to eradicating barbaric practices in Yorubaland, especially ritual killings. That is one of the reasons I have refused to join any secret society despite substantial inducements.”

“I beseech the federal government to enact capital punishment for those guilty of ritual killings and to focus on the activities of secret societies, which are the root causes of these heinous acts.”

“I urge Islamic scholars and students to question the barbaric practices in the land. Most of the old systems are no longer effective unless we want to keep getting the same results. We need a more productive approach free from cultural infractions to get us on the right track. Ask questions to know the truth.”

“The youth should wake up. Your financial freedom depends on honorable sources of survival. There is no shortcut to success without repercussions. If you want to enjoy it long-term, let it be legitimate.”