The Isese Human Rights Community (ISHRIC) has decried the alarming rise in ritual killings, allegedly perpetrated by some Islamic scholars in Yorubaland.

In a statement released yesterday, the group expressed concern over recent incidents involving Islamic clerics caught with human parts, describing these acts as a threat to public safety, particularly for young women and youths.

Citing multiple cases, ISHRIC highlighted the conviction of two clerics, Folorunsho Abdulwahab and his father, Babatunde Folorunso, in Kwara State. The duo was found guilty of exhuming and mutilating the body of Abdulwahab’s friend, Mallam Suleiman Saka, for ritual purposes.

Similarly, the group referenced the arrest of an Islamic cleric, Oluwafemi Idris, in Ondo State for possessing fresh human parts, including kidneys, hearts, and a tongue. Another cleric in Ibadan was also apprehended with a human head and hands intended for rituals.

In another instance, Alfa Ahmed Giga was detained in Apete, Ibadan, for allegedly trading in human parts, a crime linked to the killing of two young girls. Meanwhile, residents of Adamo, Ikorodu, intercepted an Islamic scholar, Babalola, found with a human skull in January 2024.

ISHRIC also recounted the arrest of three clerics in Oyo State—Taofeeq Kabelohun, Rahmon Muibi (known as Alubarika), and another individual—who were caught with human remains in their vehicle. Blood leaking from their car boot had led to their capture.

The most recent case involved Sheikh Abdul-Rahamon Muhammad Bello, accused of murdering a 300-level student from the Kwara State College of Education in Ilorin. The group condemned this act as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by such perpetrators.

While commending the Nigerian Police Force for apprehending the culprits, ISHRIC urged them to remain vigilant in protecting citizens.

The group also called on traditional rulers like the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, to denounce these acts and collaborate in eradicating such practices.

“We must create a society where our citizens can live without fear of being killed for ritual purposes,” the statement read.

ISHRIC vowed to continue advocating for justice, stating: “We will not rest until our society is free from the scourge of ritual killings.” (The Guardian)