The brutal murder of Sofiat Kehinde in January for ritualistic wealth creation by three teenagers in Abeokuta, Ogun State, prompted the House of Representatives in February to call for a state of emergency on ritual killings across Nigeria. This declaration acknowledges a pervasive and destructive silent epidemic that has long plagued the nation. While the proclamation underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need to address the increase in such killings, it is imperative to understand this epidemic not merely as a failure of security, but as the ultimate manifestation of a deeper systemic, moral, and economic collapse. Despite underreporting, limited statistics indicate nearly 200 documented cases of ritual killings annually, according to the Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.
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