By Leo Igwe
The Advocacy for Alleged Witches condemns the brutal murder of Eucharia Chidi Obasi (55) of Umuediabali Ahiazu Mbaise in Imo state.
A suspected ritualist and pastor at a local church, Emeka, broke into her house at midnight on September 11, 2024, and then murdered her. Emeka cut off the breast, private organs, and other parts of the body. Local sources told AfAW that the ritualist attempted to kill another woman, but she raised an alarm. Some mob gathered, apprehended the man, and beat him to death. AfAW condemns jungle justice and extrajudicial killing of suspected criminals. Perpetrators of ritual attacks and murder should be handed over to the police, investigated, and charged in court. They should face the consequences of their actions according to the law.
The brutal murder of Eucharia Obasi underscores the potency of belief in human and ritual sacrifice and the urgent need to change mindsets, attitudes, and behaviors. Millions of Nigerians believe that ritual killing and sacrifice of human body parts could yield money, wealth, and progress. Unfortunately, this is baseless nonsense. Local sources said that the alleged ritualist pastored a church and confessed to perpetrating the murder to carry some ritual sacrifice that would grow the church. There is no evidence that ritual sacrifice of humans can help grow a church or a business.
Recently, there have been cases of ritual attacks and murder of persons across the country, including ritual murders linked to internet scams called Yahoo Plus. As the case of Ms Obasi has illustrated, irrational beliefs have caused a moral crisis.
And the society needs cultural, moral and intellectual rehabilitation.
AfAW urges Nigerians to understand that ritual money or wealth is a form of superstition and has no basis in reason, science, or reality. There is no iota of evidence that ritual sacrifice of humans or other animals or their parts can yield money, wealth, or progress as popularly believed. AfAW appeals to all Nigerians to eschew these misconceptions and to desist from ritual attacks, murder, and other superstition-based criminal and atrocious acts. The Nigerian public should abandon superstition and irrationalism and embrace reason, science, and critical thinking.
Leo Igwe directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches.
