A growing wave of fear is sweeping through the female population as cases of boyfriends killing their lovers for ritual purposes continue to rise across various states in Nigeria. These gruesome murders, driven by superstition, greed, and cruelty, have left many women feeling unsafe, even in public spaces.
One recent incident involved a 25-year-old man, identified as Elisha, who was arrested on May 14 for allegedly killing his girlfriend in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Another horrifying case saw Christiana Idowu, a student at the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Ogun State, abducted and murdered by Ayomide Adeleye on August 19. Adeleye had previously been accused of killing his ex-girlfriend in 2018.
In Lagos State, Fatai Mogaji was arrested on August 6 for allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend, Opeyemi Shoyinka, to death. In another shocking case, 19-year-old Damilola, a student at the Federal University in Lokoja, was brutally murdered by 20-year-old Jeremiah Samson, who dismembered and buried her body in a shallow grave.
These violent incidents have caused panic, particularly among young women in southwestern Nigeria. Adenike Araoye, a 22-year-old single woman, expressed her fear of dating due to the increasing number of ritual killings. “I am single, but I’m terrified of entering a relationship. The news of boys killing their girlfriends is terrifying,” she said.
Mariam Oyebamiji, a student at Osun State University, echoed this sentiment, saying, “I don’t want anyone to destroy my parents’ joy.” Oluwatobiloba Ajiboye, 30, also shared her concern, emphasizing the need for women to be more vigilant in relationships and warning that many relationships are built on deception.
Ajiboye attributed the rise in ritual killings to economic hardship and societal pressure, driving some men to seek quick wealth through deadly means. She also highlighted the dangers of dating fraudsters, commonly referred to as “Yahoo boys,” who are often linked to ritualistic practices.
Journalist Nafisat Oyedele criticized society’s reaction to femicide, pointing out that victims are often blamed rather than addressing the root causes. “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,” Oyedele said.
Activist Titilope Adako described the killings as a form of gender-based violence, noting that many perpetrators enter relationships with the intention of using their partners for rituals. She blamed a toxic mix of superstition, desperation, and ignorance for fueling these crimes, coupled with weak law enforcement that emboldens the killers.
“The lack of remorse shown by some of these killers highlights the severity of the issue,” Adako said, calling for urgent societal reforms and stronger legal frameworks to address the alarming rise in ritual killings
