If killing of girls for money rituals must end in Nigeria, traditional rulers in the country have to toe the path of the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, who has directed Imams across the state to use their Friday sermons to preach against ritual killings.
The Publisher of Green Savannah Diplomatic Cable, Mr. Sunday Oyinloye in a Press Release made available to newsmen says traditional rulers and religious leaders can no longer watch as Nigerian girls are being slaughtered like animals by some youths who are not ready to embrace legitimate means of livelihood.
Mr. Oyinloye commended the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari for being the first traditional ruler in Nigeria, to give a directive against ritual killings in the country and appealed to other royal fathers in the country to also speak out against the evil which has tarnished the image of Nigeria.
“The Emir of Ilorin has written his name in gold for not only speaking boldly against ritual killings, but for also giving a directive to Islamic clerics in the state to preach against ritual killings in their Friday sermons. If other traditional rulers in the country follow this exemplary step, the evil called ritual killings will be eradicated” said Oyinloye.
The Publisher noted that his organization, Green Savannah Diplomatic Cable started the campaign against ritual killing of girls in Nigeria in January 2022 but lamented that it has since been a solo journey adding that the directive given by the Emir of Ilorin that Imams should preach against ritual killings in their Friday sermons will further encourage him to fight for the protection of Nigerian girls who are mostly the victims of ritual killings.
The Media Executive also called on religious leaders and other stakeholders in the country to begin to speak out against ritual killings stressing that Nigerians girls should not die cheaply in the hands of those who are bent on making money at all cost.
Oyinloye counseled Nigerian youth to shun the temptation of looking for money at all cost adding that they should embrace hard work and think outside the box and do legitimate businesses.
“It is unfortunate that some of our girls are being killed and their body parts being sold at ridiculous prices. It is insane and devilish to take another person’s life in the name of making money which will not even come.
“Why on earth should a man take another person’s life for money rituals when there are business opportunities everywhere?
“Even if there are no business opportunities, it is not right to take another person’s life. I am appealing to our youths in the country to stop this evil practice and embrace hard work. No one should cause sorrow for any family simply because he wants to make money.” he said.
To address the problem of ritual killings in Nigeria, Oyinloye recommended death penalty without option of jail terms for any established case of ritual killing adding that it is the only way out of the challenge.
He commended the Kwara State Police Command for apprehending the killer of Miss Yetunde Hafsoh Lawal, a final year student of Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.