Niger Delta Weekly Update for February 06-12, 2022

This special edition of the weekly update spotlights targeted killings of women and girls for ritual purposes in the Niger Delta. According to data (see map below), over 150 incidents of ritual-related killings were reported in the Niger Delta between January 2018 and December 2021. Recent incidents also indicate an upsurge in targeted killings of women and girls for ritual purposes in the region, particularly in Cross River, Delta and Imo State. In January 2022, for example, more than 10 girls were reportedly killed for rituals in Ogoja town, Cross River State. Some vital organs of the victims were allegedly harvested. Separately, in January, suspected ritualists reportedly killed a young girl and removed her eyes in Ogwashi-Uku town in Aniocha North LGA, Delta State. Also, in January, a young man reportedly attempted to kill his mother for ritual purposes in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The woman was stabbed with a knife severally before she escaped. More recently, on February 07, 2022, an 80-year old woman was reportedly killed and her body parts harvested for ritual purposes in Olomoro town in Isoko South LGA, Delta State.