Many women are growing increasingly fearful following the rise in cases of boyfriends killing young women for ritual purposes in different states.
The women view the killings as a reflection of societal failure, greed, and cruelty, leaving them feeling unsafe, even in public spaces.
One recent case involved a 25-year-old man, identified simply as Elisha, who was arrested on May 14 for allegedly killing his lover in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Similarly, Christiana Idowu, a female student at the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Ogun State, was kidnapped and killed on August 19 by one Ayomide Adeleye, who had previously been accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend in 2018.
Other cases include the August 6 arrest of Fatai Mogaji in Lagos State for allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend, Opeyemi Shoyinka, to death, and the chilling murder of 19-year-old Damilola, a student at the Federal University in Lokoja.
Damilola’s killer, 20-year-old Jeremiah Samson, was arrested after dismembering and burying her remains in a shallow grave.
These violent incidents have caused widespread panic, particularly among young women in southwestern Nigeria.
A 22-year-old lady, Adenike Araoye, expressed fear about dating in light of the alarming rise in ritual killings.
“I am single, but I’m terrified of entering a relationship. The news of boys killing their girlfriends is terrifying. Good guys seem rare these days,” she said.
A student at the Osun State University, Mariam Oyebamiji, while speaking on general insecurity in the society, said, “I don’t want anyone to destroy my parents’ joy.”
Another lady, Oluwatobiloba Ajiboye, 30, also shared her concern over how easily women had become targets for ritualists.
She, however, urged women to be vigilant in relationships, pointing out that many relationships were based on deception.
“These killings show that some men never truly loved these women; the relationship was just a cover for their sinister plans,” Ajiboye said.
She also warned that materialism and dating fraudsters, often referred to as Yahoo boys, increased the risks for women.
Ajiboye attributed the rise in ritual killings to the harsh economic climate and societal pressure, which she believed had pushed many young men to seek quick wealth through deadly means.
Also, a journalist, Nafisat Oyedele, lamented society’s disappointing reaction to femicide, often blaming the victims instead of addressing the root cause.
“It’s heartbreaking to see so many femicide cases in Nigeria, yet society blames the victims. Girls are told to stay home, but even at home, they aren’t always safe. Many are killed by people close to them,” Oyedele said.
An activist, Titilope Adako, identified the killings as a form of gender-based violence.
She explained that some perpetrators enter relationships with the intent of using their partners for rituals.
Adako said, “The fact that intimate partners, who should offer love and support, are committing these brutal acts is a clear sign of societal failure.”
She also pointed out that the crimes were fueled by a toxic mix of superstition, desperation, and ignorance.
She explained that the belief that human sacrifice leads to wealth, combined with a lack of effective law enforcement, creates an environment where violence is normalised and criminals feel emboldened.
Adako added, “The lack of remorse shown by some of these killers highlights the severity of the issue.”