Christian and Islamic leaders have raised concerns over the increasing number of suspected ritual killings involving religious clerics across the country. They attribute this alarming trend to greed and economic hardship.
Recently, authorities arrested an alleged Islamic cleric, Abdulrahman Bello, for the brutal murder of Hafsoh Lawal, a final-year student at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin. According to the Kwara State Police Command, the 29-year-old suspect killed and dismembered Lawal on February 11, 2025, in the Olunlade area of Ilorin, reportedly for ritual purposes.
In another case, on January 23, the Rivers State Police Command apprehended two pastors, Prophet Bassey Umoren, 60, and Prophet Elijah Anietie, 50, after discovering ritual-related objects—including caskets, monkey skulls, and carved skeletons—inside their churches.
Similar incidents were reported in 2024, including the arrest of an Islamic cleric, Oluwafemi Idris, known as Alfa, by the Ondo State Police Command. Authorities found human body parts such as hands, kidneys, and tongues in his possession.
Religious Leaders Speak Out
In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, religious leaders strongly condemned these acts, linking them to the pursuit of wealth and power at any cost.
Archbishop Isaac Olawuyi of the Methodist Diocese in Lagos expressed deep concern, stating that some religious figures treat their ministries as business ventures rather than spiritual callings.
“There have been cases where pastors take the lives of their own followers to gain supernatural power or grow their congregations. Others engage in rituals purely for financial gain,” Olawuyi said. “Unfortunately, some individuals enter ministry not because of a divine calling but because they see it as a means to make money.”
Similarly, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Lagos, denounced the involvement of clerics in ritual killings, emphasizing that such actions are rooted in greed and deception. He insisted that those responsible should not be considered true religious leaders.
“A genuine servant of God would never take a human life. Both the Bible and the Quran clearly state, ‘Thou shalt not kill.’ Any religious leader involved in such acts—whether Christian or Muslim—is not truly serving God. They must be held accountable and face the law,” Adegbite stated.
The Islamic Perspective
Professor Idris Ayinde, Chief Imam of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, criticized the involvement of young Islamic clerics in ritual killings, attributing their actions to a lack of wisdom and proper guidance.
“Wisdom is acquired through patience and learning from experienced scholars. Unfortunately, many young clerics today rush into leadership without the necessary knowledge or humility to learn,” Ayinde explained.
He emphasized that Islam strictly forbids seeking wealth through unethical means, as prosperity is ultimately determined by divine will.
“Islam encourages hard work, but success comes from Allah. No one should seek shortcuts to riches. Any so-called scholar engaging in ritual killings cannot be considered a true Muslim, as Islam strictly prohibits such practices,” Ayinde added.
Religious leaders have urged authorities to take firm action against those involved in these crimes and called for stronger measures to prevent further occurrences.
