Spare the rod and spoil the child
When I hear stories of young boys killing fellow human beings for money rituals, it gives me chills. I begin to wonder if they are made of different species. It baffles me how they were trained. We cannot rule out the fact that society contributes to the way people behave but the basic foundation of a child begins from the home. Every grown man or woman is the end product of the success or failure of their parent(s). A well brought of child will not succumb totally to societal pressures. Such adult will know where to draw the line.
We all have our childhood experiences that has helped shaping our way of life. A child who grows up in a godly home, with the fear of God instilled in them will have conscience, will recognise boundaries. A child who gets the taste of the rod for doing the wrong thing, will know better not to repeat it. Although there are exceptions, but the society would not be as horrible as it is now. Stories of human sacrifices everyday, Yahoo Yahoo has become the order of the day, kidnappings for ransom, scammers on the increase and most annoying, some parents aid and abet such heinous crimes.
Let me share my experience as a child that taught me never to take what does not belong to me. That day, I learnt the hard way. As a child still in primary school, I loved cleaning. Without been told, I would wash my parents and our bathroom (two bathtubs and two toilets) sparkling clean. On some days, after school, I will pick my late mother’s clothes, wash and fold them neatly when they are dry. I would always sweep and clean my father’s bedroom. Of course, I got praises each time from my late parents for being exceptional at cleaning. I never bothered my pretty head if my siblings were cleaning or not.
Each time I cleaned my father’s bedroom, there was this N20 coin on his television. It was there for a long time. Money has never gone missing. I often wondered why it was there. “Maybe he didn’t need it. Perhaps he has forgotten”, my little mind thought. So, on this fateful day, after dutifully cleaning his bedroom, I decided to pick the N20. I didn’t inform my siblings. Why should I? I have been the one cleaning, they shouldn’t partake in the “bounty”. I also didn’t need anyone to discourage me from taking the money. And so, I went for the kill.
I gave myself some treat. I bought sweets, chewing gum, trebor (those of us who ate this in the 80s will understand) and biscuits. While my siblings were outside playing, I was inside enjoying myself. Halfway through my treat, I heard my dad drive home. Quickly, I hid the remaining treats in my school bag, rushed out to welcome him and then joined others outside to play. He praised me for cleaning his room. Meanwhile, my mother was in Makurdi, working on her transfer to join us in Ugbokolo in Benue State. We had moved from Makurdi to Benue Polytechnic Ugbokolo and my mother’s transfer was yet to be formalised. She normally comes home on weekends. She was not home on this day because it was a weekday.
Engrossed in playing, I heard, Grace! as my father called. I rushed in to answer his call. He was seated on his chair in the living room unaware that he had his waist belt with him. He asked where the money on his television was. I pretended not to know what he was talking about. “What money?” I asked. He took me to his room to show me where the money used to be. I still lied. He knew I was the one who took it. How did he know? Unknown to me, as soon as he discovered the money had developed legs, he went searching our school bags. Unfortunately for me, he found the leftover of my treats in my school. He immediately knew that was the proceeds of the money. Going to school, my siblings and I were never given money to school. We always went to school with biscuits and tree-top drink. So, I had no reason having those things in my bag.
I followed him back to the living room. He asked me for the last time if I took the money and my response was same. I denied. He then took me to where we kept our school bags and asked me to open and empty my bag. That was when I knew the die is cast. I reluctantly did. He asked how I got the sweets and I had to lie again. I had to save my integrity. I lied that a friend whose parents he knew give them to me. He was furious. He picked his car keys, went out to the car and he asked me to enter. We were going to confirm if she indeed gave me the treats. That was when I could no longer move. My legs could no longer carry me. I will never forget the day. My father gave me the beating of my life. He started beating me from outside the house, until I ran inside. He asked me to go on my knees and continued beating me till the belt cut in pieces. I was in that position for a long time.
That beating is an experience I will never forget. I fell ill after that encounter. Those were the days of five chloroquine injections. I was feeling the pains of the beating my father gave me, I was sick, I was also going through pains of the injection and the itching that comes with it. To make matters worse, my father told my mother when she came for weekend. She was so disappointed and will not cease to remind me of my heinous crime whenever I made a mistake. That period was hell. I vowed never to take what does not belong to me. I was in primary four but I made the decision that has shaped me positively. I don’t steal. I don’t take what does not belong to me, I am not covetous. Did I continue cleaning and washing? Yes, I did. I was just a child. I needed to build back the trust.
People do not just develop bad behavior. It builds over time. Any negative character trait that is not corrected, will snowball into disaster waiting to happen. Some parents rather than correct bad character traits in their children, excuse such bad behavior. That is why we have parents today who celebrate their teenagers for buying them cars and even building houses for them. They shamelessly move into the house and drive the cars.
The number of money rituals going on in Nigeria is mind blowing. Cases of using humans for money rituals in Nigeria are alarming and widespread. In December 2021, a suspected internet fraudster, Osas, from Edo State allegedly murdered his girlfriend, Elohor Oniorosa, for ritual purposes. Another disturbing case occurred in November 2022, where a Yahoo boy and his herbalist, Ike, aka Ogenesu, were arrested after policemen recovered suspected human parts at the herbalist’s place in Obiaruku, Delta State.
Ogun State has witnessed a surge in ritual killings, with at least 15 reported cases between January 2022 and 2023. Some of these cases include: The Ijebu Ode Incident: A 36-year-old herbalist, Taiwo Ajalorun, was arrested for allegedly killing a 26-year-old mother of two and two others. The Oke Aregba incident were two suspected ritualists were set ablaze by an angry mob for possessing human parts; the Abeokuta incident, where teenagers were caught burning the head of a female, Sofia, whom they killed for money ritual. These cases and many more, underscore the disturbing reality of ritual killings in Nigeria, often driven by desperation and the pursuit of wealth.
Unfortunately, some parents in Nigeria support their children’s involvement in internet fraud and ritual killings for money. This phenomenon has become a significant concern in the country, with many young people engaging in them.
In some cases, parents are aware of their children’s involvement and may even encourage or support it, often due to economic pressures or a desire for financial stability. This can perpetuate a cycle of corruption and undermine efforts to combat cybercrime. The widespread prevalence of Yahoo and Yahoo plus among Nigerian youths has reached a point where security officials, parents, guardians, and citizens often perceive it as commonplace, showing little inclination to address it. This lack of attention can contribute to the normalisation of cybercrime and other social vices and make it more challenging to combat.
It is important to note that not all parents support Yahoo, and many are actively working to prevent their children from engaging in cybercrime activities. However, the phenomenon of parental support for Yahoo highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing cybercrime in Nigeria, including education, economic empowerment, and community engagement. Security Agencies that arrest and release such youths should also be checked and brought to book. Government should make strong policies with stringent punishment for offenders.
