In Delta State, there is a growing concern about the spate of bizarre killings like patricide and matricide which are being linked to money making rituals, occasioned by the use of hard drugs. The police are investigating.
There is a growing and abnormal act among youths in Delta state. It has become very worrisome.
For instance, what will make a young boy in his 20s hack his mother to death? Also, why will young boys in several reported cases rape their mothers or grandmothers and then strangle them to death? These strange actions gaining prominence in the circle of young adults are unsettling the minds of many decent members of the society.
Murder they wrought
Last week in Eku community, a young male adult allegedly raped his grandmother, a septuagenarian. Shocking no doubt. A few months back in the same community, a young boy allegedly hacked his mother to death on Echi road. Vanguard gathered that the boy and the mother went to a shrine in the area at about 11pm to see the juju priest. The man told them to return the following day and that it was too late to attend to them. On their way back the boy, who had a cutlass with him, stepped back a little from the mother and used the sharp side of the weapon on her neck. The mother screamed and fell down, blood gushing out.
The incident which happened a few meters away from the residence of the juju priest attracted the attention of his family. They rushed out to the scene and found the woman in the pool of her blood. It was fortuitous that the boy who hacked her was still standing near her. Quickly they over-powered him while his mother was rushed to a nearby hospital. Sadly, she didn’t make it. The boy was handed over to the police.
In Agbarho community, Ughelli North Lo- cal Government Area, about four months ago, a young boy allegedly raped the mother and after the sinister act he constricted her throat till she gave up the ghost.
In Okpare Olomu community, Ughelli south, an Anglican priest, Reverend Isaac Umurie, was butchered to death in his sleep by his 28-years old son, Ufuoma Umurie.
Police investigations are on-going
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe confirmed the case when it occurred.
Vanguard gathered that some of the cases are being investigated by the Police authorities. Vanguard was made to understand that some of these acts are done under the influence of narcotics. Yet, there are those who still insist that the phenomenon of money-making rituals is a ruse.
Barely a month ago a community leader in Oghior, Udu Local Government Area, Pa Chicago Okutu, was consumed in an inferno when his son, Saturday, allegedly set his father’s house on fire.
Drugs or rituals for wealth
Now the question agitating the minds of right-thinking members of the society is what could be responsible for the bizarre acts? Is it drugs or ritual killings for Yahoo Yahoo activities (rituals for wealth)?
Originally, Yahoo Yahoo started as a local word for Internet fraud which gained currency among the young adults slightly over two decades ago. The meaning however has been expounded to cover riches from unexplainable sources, including killing for money making purposes, simply termed ritual killings.
Before the sudden wealth comes, many of these boys patronise commercial bicycle and tricycle (keke) operators. And these operators have an idea about their modus operandi.
Speaking to the Vanguard on this growing and ugly trend among the young ones, a Keke in Warri, Mr Joseph Ovie, said the two, referring to substance abuse and Yahoo money, go together. According to him, the craze for money among many young ones is driving them into ritual killings and drug abuse. “ Let me explain. The juju priests they patronize set conditions for them. In some cases, they tell them to bring the blood of dear ones. In other situations, they tell them outrightly to kill their parents and bring some of the body parts,” he said.
An Okada rider, Mr Egwuono who also spoke to the Vanguard said he conveys many of the youths on his bike to the shrines. He said they already have another name for the word shrine. According to him, they call the shrines “locations”.
“When those I take to these “locations” or shrines call me on the phone, if you are around me when I receive the calls you won’t understand our conversation because they would simply say, I should come to carry them to the location. Usually, they pay very well to convey them. This is why we Okada and keke riders always oblige them,” he said.
“The truth is that you can’t use your clear eyes to do the task or assignment given to them for the money to come. This is why they take all kinds of hard substances to keep them in the mood,” Egwuono added.
Location
As Egwuono said, the boys coined the word location for shrine. Another Okada rider, Misan, confirmed it. Misan said Yahoo money and the search for how to meet the rules set by the juju priests drive the boys to do drugs. “You certainly need to be high to kill your own child or friend for money. You can’t do it with your clear eyes”, he said .
Misan said whenever the boys booked him to convey them to “locations”, he always prayed fervently not to run into any trouble. “They pay very well. But I always pray not to be their victim at the locations. They know I usually alert some close people around that I carried this person or that on chatter for the day”, he said.
Vanguard gathered that some of the substances they take include marijuana, (which they have nick- named wisdom leaves), Colorado, Loud and so on.
Fred, a young man who operates a beer parlour on Jakpa Road said Yahoo boys mix all kinds of things to be intoxicated. “Some don’t rely on one single substance. They blend cocaine with marijuana and tramadol to get high. When they get to that high state some won’t even know their trousers are falling off their waist. It’s so bad “, he said.
NDLEA, community participation
Some persons who spoke to Vanguard appealed for community participation to end the menace. They said it is not enough to leave the job for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. “Communities should be involved. They should set up community structures to work with government agencies like the NDLEA, police to bring this substance abuse under control”, a security expert, Mr Ibarko Mamus said.
Pa Oghenevwede Amos, an elder in Warri said it could be so depressing and disturbing for a young boy to idle away at home after graduating from the University.
He said the frustration and depression are also twin problems responsible for why many of the boys consume hard drugs and chase Yahoo money.
“The Delta state and the federal government should engage the youths. Give them jobs,” he pleaded.
VANGUARD.
