Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, Telu I, has charged the South West governors to ensure that the South West Security Network otherwise known as Amotekun is also made to fight ritual killings and “traditional corruptions.”

In a statement by his press secretary, Ali Ibrahim, the paramount ruler said ritual killing is deadlier and more recurrent than Fulani herdsmen’s heinuos activities.

The Oluwo, who drew the attention of the Yoruba stakeholders to the menace of ritual killings, insisted that the politicians should be held responsible for trading their game with kidnapping.

He expressed disappointment that no one is talking about how to curtail ritual killings in the ongoing support for the Amotekun.

Oluwo said: “Amotekun as an institution should be made to fight traditional corruption, most especially ritual killings which consume our children’s blood daily. There is blood of innocent people in the street. It is a failure on the part of government, traditional institution and other stakeholders that no severe legislation is enacted to punish ritual killers and their accomplices.

“I am not condemning Amotekun but I am talking about better direction of job specification and scope of roles for the regional security outfit. Amotekun’s oversight functions should be streamlined to solve fundamental challenges facing us. It is disheartening that we misplace our priority.

“Tell me a day that we don’t read in the newspapers or listen over over the radio or television of innocent boys and girls been killed by ritual killers with their vital parts removed. As a royal father I am not comfortable with the silence of the authorities on menace of ritual killing. Or have we traditionally legalized ritual killings or why are we so silent on the such acts perpetrated by some bad elements within the society against fellow humans? Or are we all beneficiaries of ritual killings?

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“I want to charge all stakeholders to streamline the activities of Amotekun to prioritize checkmating of ritual killings so as to protect innocent lives and enact death penalty for any culprit caught killing fellow human for rituals. I am not happy with ritual killers. They are not humans. Government should help us by enacting a law against ritual killings. Whether male or female, those killed by the ritual killers is my children. This must stop. Humans are not animals that you slaughter, kill and dismember. It is an aberration. Such is never part of any culture. We should empower Amotekun to elinmate such a barbaric act.

“Just imagine, an innocent university final year student was killed in Ikoyi-Ile few weeks ago, out of ignorance that a spirit will bring money. It is poverty of the mind that could make someone be so gullible. Now, the child is gone. What a wicked act. What are we doing as people to curtail such acts must be important to us. So, we need an institution that will allay fear against such an act.

“Additionally, to fight traditional corruption, we need agents of unquestionable characters and not accomplice of ritual killers. We need a transparent institution that will lead us out of daily killing of our children for money, promotion, popularity and so on.”

The Oluwo implored Nigerians, especially herbalists, pastors and alfas to imbibe new approaches to offering sacrifices such as beautifying public places and economic empowerment programmes for the vulnerables in the society among others, noting that “these are rewarding, promotional and more naturally acceptable than killing fellow humans for ritual.”