The three teenagers caught in Abeokuta for beheading a girl for money ritual has rightly brought to the front burner the shrouded practice of money ritual among youths of the country.
It will be a white lie to assert that the Abeokuta incident is novel. Instead it is a spill-off of the denial and irresponsibility we as a people have paid to this practice we see happen in our nooks and crannies, yet look the other way.
Lack of parental care constitutes one of the causes galvanizing Nigerian youth in engaging themselves in ritual. Their parents have failed to do their duties in teaching them morals that will make them responsible and shun despicable acts like rituals.
Poverty also accounts for why most Nigerian youth engage in money ritual. Owing to the fact that their parents don’t have money to take good care of them, they see that as a leverage to go out there and get money at all costs.
The influence of peer group cannot be discounted as well. As a result of wanting to imitate their friends, youth pander to all sorts of vices inasmuch as they can achieve their imitation ambition.
Are we also going to deny that unemployment stokes this disturbing trend? Due to the fact that there are no jobs, youths are tempted as a result of being idle to lay their hands on anything just for survival and to have a sense of belonging on earth . And like the saying goes, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.”
Greediness also accounts as part of the reasons most Nigerian youth engage themselves in money rituals. They are not contented with what they have. They always want more, as such, are on the move to keep on acquiring material possessions even when it is superfluous.
Then comes in laziness. Most Nigerian youth don’t want to work but want to spend money, building mansions. As such, the delusion that money ritual gives them, gets to their head and makes them shell out everything they have to get indulge in it.
The question then is: how can we eradicate this gruesome trend in the country?
First, parents should take good care of their children. That is, they should wake up to their responsibilities.
The government should then provide more job opportunities for the youths. They should provide free education. And importantly, make a law or set up a policy for those that engage in money ritual to face dire consequences which will serve as deterrents to intending minds.
Again, government should organize seminar for the youths to enlighten them on the dangers inherent in money rituals and how it poses a threat to the peace and stability of the society.
Ademolu Toheeb is an ND1 student of Mass Communication.
nice