Nigeria: Ritual murders spark lynchings (Vigilantism on the rise;GRUESOME CONTENT ADVISORY)

News 24 (South Africa) ^ | October 21, 2005

[Stoat]

Ritual murders spark lynchings

21/10/2005 09:10  - (SA)  

 

Lagos - Avenging lynch mobs have seized and burnt alive more than 20 suspected kidnappers over the past month in and around the Nigerian city of Lagos where terrified residents have taken extreme measures to stamp out ritual child sacrifices, police and witnesses said.

The mutilated corpses of the victims of black magic ceremonies - which turn up on an almost daily basis in the fields and on the roadsides of southwest Nigeria - have now been joined by piles of ash and blackened flesh where alleged gang-members were set ablaze.

Police and religious leaders fear that both the sacrifices and the revenge attacks are a sign of a dangerous breakdown in social order, but gruesome media reports of the latest outrages are feeding a climate of fear and few here trust the authorities to regain control.

"I support instant justice for suspects. If we hand them over to the police, they will buy their freedom and then become more adamant and daring in their actions," said a 22-year-old apprentice mechanic from the Lagos suburb of Ikorodu, who said he had taken part in a vigilante killing.

Many believe in sacrifices

A police officer confirmed witness reports that in Ikorodu four suspected child kidnappers were grabbed by a mob, beaten senseless, doused in petrol and set on fire.

On October 9 in the farming town of Otta, 60km north of the city, two more suspects were killed and five more captured and handed to police after a 14-year-old boy escaped from kidnappers and ran to his parents, who mobilised a gang of youths.

Television and newspaper reports of the incident showed torn dresses, school uniforms and satchels littering the kidnappers' hideout; evidence, it was said, of child sacrifice.

One of the suspects, 46-year-old Ibukun Okelola, reportedly told journalists: "I cannot remember how many people I have killed, but they cannot be less than nine students."

Many in southwestern Nigeria believe in the power of juju, an occult blend of mystic ritual and traditional African belief. Some believe that by sacrificing humans and using their body parts in ceremonies they will become rich and powerful.

Last weekend four more suspects met their deaths in the Oke-Odo and Cement districts of Lagos. On Monday, amid mounting hysteria, an 11-year-old boy was burned to death after being accused of trying to kidnap a child.

Afterwards, Nigeria's police chief Inspector General Sunday Ehindero appealed for calm.

"Members of the public should not take the laws into their hand. We will arrest those who do so. They could have lynched or burnt innocent people," he said.

But many in Nigeria feel that the mob attacks are the inevitable result of the notoriously corrupt and incompetent police force failing to protect the community from the ritualists.

[Stoat]

Readers may also be interested in these items:

Africa Nigerian lynched for witchcraft

South Africa Mob stones father at grave (Witchcraft blamed)

Angry South Africans take law into their own hands (This is widespread; video available)

[StormEye]

One of the suspects, 46-year-old Ibukun Okelola, reportedly told journalists: "I cannot remember how many people I have killed, but they cannot be less than nine students."

He's probably applying to immigrate to the USA right now. (I bet he's on the fast-track list for a grren card too!)

[gaijin]

Nigerians in LONDON even started doing this...

[Just Lori]

Stoat! You are a GREAT AMERICAN!

Seriously, if I were concerned this could happen to my kid, or if anyone tried to hurt my kid, and if the police could not be trusted to take care of the evil scum preying on innocent children, I'd probably go after them too.

[Freedom_Fighter_2001]

General Sunday Ehindero's business partner, a former minister in the Nigeria National Oil Ministry, is sending me a checque for $15,000,000.00 (Fifteen MILLION DOLLARS)as a finder's fee for my help in exporting these funds after I give him my bank account information.

I am going to be rich!

[Rocketwolf68]

Coming to a community near you. I witnessed a disgusting display from one of our local "marching bands" today. The gyrating, hip thrusting and tribal dance sans actual music was lacking only the necklace-o-bones and a human sacrifice. Celebrate diversity!

[Stoat]

He's probably applying to immigrate to the USA right now. (I bet he's on the fast-track list for a grren card too!)

I have lost faith in the integrity of our immigration policy ( a sentiment which anyone who has not been living under a rock for the past 30 years will share) but I sincerely hope that our nation has not become so utterly and breathtakingly depraved as that.

[dinodino]

Yay. Go, Africa. Woohoo.

[Stoat]

Nigerians in LONDON even started doing this...

I remember those news stories.  Immigration policy has become a hot political item among our good British Friends across the pond, and hopefully some tangible reforms will be implemented.  Just because you show compassion to people from impoverished nations and offer them the opportunity for a better life doesn't mean that they will dispense with the belief systems that contributed toward their impoverished state.  The Left in the USA has failed to learn that obvious lesson as well.

[Stoat]

Stoat! You are a GREAT AMERICAN!

((((BLUSHING)))))

<<< reminding readers that Spanaway Lori is a Great American as well   :-)

Seriously, if I were concerned this could happen to my kid, or if anyone tried to hurt my kid, and if the police could not be trusted to take care of the evil scum preying on innocent children, I'd probably go after them too.

Agreed.  Protecting the public is the primary and most important role of Government, and public officials who engage in corruption and incompetence do so at their own risk.

[Stoat]

General Sunday Ehindero's business partner, a former minister in the Nigeria National Oil Ministry, is sending me a checque for $15,000,000.00 (Fifteen MILLION DOLLARS)as a finder's fee for my help in exporting these funds after I give him my bank account information.

A strange thing about stupid people.....they assume that everyone else is just as stupid (or more so) than they are.  Although I would suggest that those who are so gullible as to fall for these scams may be in need of just such a lesson, it's also a reflection of the overall level of education in Nigeria that 1.  Most of these scams originate from there, and 2. Witchcraft and other related idiocy is rampant there. 

I fear that Nigeria and other parts of Africa are doomed to an endless cycle of strife, with no solution in sight until everyone has either died of starvation or has killed everyone else.

I am going to be rich!

I'm assuming that you will be donating the lion's share of your newly-found largesse to the next Freepathon?   :-)

General Sunday Ehindero's business partner, a former minister in the Nigeria National Oil Ministry, is sending me a checque for $15,000,000.00 (Fifteen MILLION DOLLARS)as a finder's fee for my help in exporting these funds after I give him my bank account information.

A strange thing about stupid people.....they assume that everyone else is just as stupid (or more so) than they are.  Although I would suggest that those who are so gullible as to fall for these scams may be in need of just such a lesson, it's also a reflection of the overall level of education in Nigeria that 1.  Most of these scams originate from there, and 2. Witchcraft and other related idiocy is rampant there. 

I fear that Nigeria and other parts of Africa are doomed to an endless cycle of strife, with no solution in sight until everyone has either died of starvation or has killed everyone else.

I am going to be rich!

[Freedom_Fighter_2001]

I'm assuming that you will be donating the lion's share of your newly-found largesse to the next Freepathon? :-)

Every last cent! That's the easiest promise I've ever made.

Nigeria is Screwed-up ----> http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fg-scammers20oct20,0,301315.story?coll=la-tot-promo

[RipSawyer]

I am going to be rich!>>>>>>>>

I must have received letters offering a total of at least two hundred million dollars from Nigeria but for some strange reason they have stopped sending them to me. I wonder if it is because I never responded......

[Cruz]

ping for later