Nigerian police links ritual killings to hookup culture

The Nigerian Police Force has raised alarm over a disturbing connection between the surge in missing young women and girls and the prevalence of hookup culture across the nation.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, highlighted the vulnerability of women aged 20 to 32 who frequently fall victim to this trend, often being exploited for ritual purposes.

Hookup culture, characterized by casual sexual encounters without emotional commitment, has gained significant traction in Nigeria.

While it has existed globally since the 1920s, its acceptance continues to spark debate. Some argue it represents a feminist milestone, promoting sexual autonomy, while others caution it undermines healthy, intimate relationships.

Odutola emphasized that the alarming link between missing persons and the hookup trend requires urgent societal intervention. She noted that this culture has a gendered impact, with women often judged more harshly than men for participating.

The police spokesperson urged greater awareness and education among young people about the risks associated with hookup culture, particularly as it relates to safety and exploitation.

“This particular menace is very serious and I would like a lot of young people to understand the danger in the hookup culture.

“Today, we have lots of reports of missing persons. By the time we start an investigation, not less than 10 young girls and ladies go missing daily.

“In-depth investigations also reveal that those cases are not by accidents. Most of them are connected to hookup channels and apps. They fall victim to strangers who causally invite them to unknown places, and eventually fall victim to being used for ritual purposes,” she said.

She added that most young persons, especially males believe that ritual killings can make them get rich.

‘Most cases of missing girls and ritual killings occurring in Ogun state of recent, I would like to say that it is not new. But as much as possible, the Ogun state commissioner of police has been able to tame these ugly incidents.

“That is why we are having advocacy and sensitization, to enlighten young persons to make them understand that engaging in ritual killings does not in any way make them rich,” she said.

She assured that “the Ogun State government, particularly the Women Affairs Commission works in tandem with the police command by providing counselling sessions.

“Apart from that, whenever we have cases such as this if per adventure the girls escape the rituals, we also have a proper way of helping them go through the distress of mental health and anxiety they might have felt during the incident.

“The hookup culture is prevalent among young girls between the ages of 20 to about 32 years. The reason they get involved in this menace is because they feel they don’t get enough from their parents, and then the get-rich syndrome,” she said.