Discussants on the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Ogun State radio station, FUNAAB Radio 89.5FM live interactive programme, Boiling Point, have attributed the high rate of ritual killings in society to poor parenting, loss of cultural values, and peer pressure. They said poor status of society was responsible for the degeneration being experienced; stressing that parents had neglected their core responsibilities in nurturing their children. According to Dr. Segun Ayedun, Lecturer at the Protestant University of West Africa, Port Novo, Benin Republic, poverty, unemployment and lack of parental care were part of the factors responsible for ritual killings in the country, urging the government to empower youths, employ psychologists and counsellors in schools across the country.
“The rate at which these ritual killings are happening is worrisome and alarming; and if care is not taken, it will become an uncontrollable menace in society. Parents should not wait for the government before they carry out their responsibilities on their children”, he added. Also, a public affairs analyst, Mr. Olalekan Sotunde, said that ritual killing was not a new phenomenon in society, adding that the greed for money had always been there with people using different means of amassing wealth. “The causes of this menace are poor parenting, loss of cultural values, and peer pressure”, he stated. On his part, Mr. Yemi Ajala, member, Peace and Social Advancement Centre, said the breakdown of communal living and wrong use of technology were responsible for the ugly trend, adding that people get all manners of information from the Internet while Mr. Abdulkareem Bamigbade, a former President, FUNAAB Students Union (FUNAABSU) has charged parents and guardians to take proper care of their children and wards, work on the value system from home and take their children’s upbringing as a business, saying parenting is key.