SIR: In the 21st century, cannibalism and human sacrifices appear to be very much still in practice. Cannibalism is the eating of flesh by its kind and it had its practice in most cultures of the world, about 900,000 years ago.
In Cross Rivers State, according to “Folk Stories” by Elphinstone Dayrell, cannibalism was said to be practised in Insofan Mountain where slaves were killed to appease the gods of agriculture, many years ago.
Recently, the Nigerian Army, Police and Department of Security Service in a joint operation raided kidnappers’ dens in Orsu Local government of Imo State and Uli in Ihiala Local Government of Anambra State where they allegedly discovered some people said to eat fresh human flesh. The kidnappers had sacked the villagers in these areas and took over the land for the nefarious activities.
In Enugu State, an evil forest of rituals with fresh and decomposing human parts was allegedly discovered by the police. In Abuja, along Dutse- Bwari road a dismembered body of an unidentified woman was found with one of her breasts chopped off while her body was cut into half.
Lagos State has not been free from this evil, especially with the emergence of Badoo in 2017. More than 50 persons were allegedly killed by this cult group. They seemed to be invisible until they were destroyed by the then commissioner of police Edgal Imohimi with the assistance of Oodua People’s Congress, OPC – a local vigilante group.
Last year, in November 2021, two police officers were beheaded and set ablaze at Orsumoghu in Ihiala, Local Government of Anambra State. There is now an emergence of Yahoo-Plus-Plus, a glorified cultist group known for blood money. They spread their tentacles everywhere, initiating juveniles even on social media, killing or rendering their victims insane. The recent case of Bamise Ayanwole who was murdered in Lagos BRT vehicle is one too many, throwing the state into fear, bringing pain to families and loved ones.
With 2023 elections approaching, it is time that everyone became conscious of the dreaded vampires in our neighborhood. Traditional rulers, vigilante groups, police, DSS, military- all must synergize to fight these vampires. We must defeat them. Cannibalism and ritual sacrifices kill civilization and investments. They have no place in our society, except taking our nation into primitive, jungle life.
- Vandefan Fidelis,
Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State.