Sodiq Rabiu and Morakinyo Akinosun
Abuja – A man has been arrested for allegedly trading human parts in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, police said Wednesday.
Nuhu Ezra, a resident of Gosa Kipikipi village, Lugbe, was caught with a human skull and bones on July 9, 2024, at about 9:00 p.m. by operatives from the Iddo police division, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said.
According to the police, Ezra was found with the human remains while hunting in Kuje and intended to sell them for N600,000.
“The suspect, Nuhu Ezra, stated that he picked up the human skull and bones from the bush while hunting in Kuje. He intended to sell them for six hundred thousand naira (N600,000),” said SP Josephine Adeh, spokeswoman for the FCT Police Command.
Adeh urged residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT, Benneth Igweh, has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter to ascertain the source of the human parts, the intended buyer, and how long Ezra has been involved in the alleged business.
The suspect is currently in police custody and will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.
Nigeria is presently grappling with a sinister phenomenon that has already claimed countless lives and left families devastated. Ritual killing, driven by the belief that human body parts can be used for sudden wealth and power to manipulate and control, has become a scary reality in the country. This heinous practice, which is usually glossed over as a folktale until one falls victim, is an affront to human dignity and a blight on our collective conscience.
Recent data suggests that the problem is escalating. According to the National Human Rights Commission, over 200 reported cases of ritual killings occurred in Nigeria between 2018 and 2020. The victims are often vulnerable individuals, including children, women, and the elderly. The perpetrators, often fueled by greed and misguided beliefs, prey on innocent lives, leaving families and communities shattered.
It is important to note that ritual killings are a complex issue, and no single factor can fully explain their occurrence. Addressing the social state of the perpetrators requires a comprehensive approach that involves education, economic empowerment, cultural sensitisation, and governance reform.
Poverty, unemployment, and a lack of education create an environment where desperate individuals are preyed upon by unscrupulous ritualists. The belief in the efficacy of human body parts for wealth and power is fueled by ignorance, superstition, and false narratives. Some individuals believe that human organs and body parts possess spiritual powers that can bring wealth, success, and protection. This belief is perpetuated by false narratives and superstitions by dishonest individuals.
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