The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has called on community leaders and traditional institutions across Nigeria to take decisive action against the growing menace of ritual killings. In a statement released on X.com (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Adejobi emphasized the importance of collective effort in addressing the alarming rise in ritualistic murders that have left many families grieving.

Adejobi highlighted the success of a previous collaboration between the police and traditional institutions in combating the notorious Badoo rituals in Ikorodu, Lagos. He stressed that such partnerships are crucial in the fight against ritual killings, which he described as a spiritual issue requiring a holistic approach.

“I think our community leaders and traditional institutions should be involved and take a bold step to tackle the menace,” Adejobi wrote. “We adopted a similar approach when we were to tackle Badoo rituals in Ikorodu, Lagos. We can’t apparently curb it if the traditional institution is not interested or involved. It’s more spiritual than legal or physical.”

The police spokesperson further urged law enforcement agencies to incorporate community and traditional leaders into efforts to curb ritual killings. He argued that their involvement is essential for an effective response, given the spiritual dimensions of the crime.

In addition to advocating for community involvement, Adejobi called for the establishment of a separate law to address ritual killings, distinct from general murder cases. He argued that ritual killings should be treated as a unique crime that involves not only murder but also the desecration of corpses and ritualistic practices, which should carry its own specific punishments.

“There must be a described law for ritual killings, not just murder cases,” he added. “Ritual killing is both murder and disrespect to the corpse and ritualism, which should attract its punishment separately.”

The call for action comes amid increasing concerns over ritual killings in various parts of the country, with reports of such incidents causing widespread fear and outrage. Adejobi’s statement is a rallying cry for a united front involving law enforcement, traditional institutions, and community leaders to tackle the issue head-on and bring perpetrators to justice.