*By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu*
The scriptures tell us that the love of money is the root of all evil. While making money in itself is not inherently wrong—since it fulfills basic human needs—the excessive and unbridled pursuit of wealth is dangerous. The Bible warns us not to labor solely to become rich but to seek wisdom. Those who chase riches at any cost will inevitably fall into temptation.
In recent times, Nigerians have increasingly embraced the pursuit of money, often at the expense of moral and ethical values. This has fueled a disproportionate craving for wealth. The Apostle Paul, in 2 Timothy 3, warned Timothy about the challenges of the last days: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”
This excessive desire for money has led to a disturbing rise in ritual killings. Both mainstream and social media are frequently filled with gruesome stories of innocent people being murdered or dismembered, often with vital organs extracted. Women, in particular, have been victims of such brutal acts.
Ritualists often sacrifice their wives, husbands, children, house servants, or siblings for the sake of making money. Sometimes, the victims are strangers, contributing to the growing number of missing persons.
Reports reveal that these sacrifices can involve horrific acts, such as butchering victims, consuming their flesh, or drinking their blood, rendering them powerless.
Beyond sacrificing others, there is a troubling phenomenon known as “self-immolation,” where individuals sacrifice parts of themselves for wealth. The ritualist might lose limbs, manhood, or even shorten their lifespan, preferring to enjoy a brief period of wealth rather than live in poverty. This mindset has contributed to the alarming increase in untimely deaths, which contradicts the Biblical teaching that life is transient. James 4:14 reminds us, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Similarly, Swami Sivananda warns us, “Life is a pilgrimage. The wise man does not rest by the roadside inns. He marches directly to the illimitable domain of eternal bliss, his ultimate destination.”
In contrast, the get-rich-quick mentality has also led some public servants to engage in corrupt practices. These include over-invoicing, inflating contract values, awarding and collecting mobilization fees, abandoning contracts, and outright looting of public funds. The late Chinua Achebe aptly captured this in his book “The Trouble With Nigeria”: “Keeping an average Nigerian from being corrupt is like keeping a goat from eating yam.”
This corruption has devastating effects on the country’s economy, resulting in dwindling treasuries, a lack of commitment among public servants, and a declining standard of living as funds meant for public use are diverted into private pockets. The ghost-worker syndrome remains unchecked.
Addressing this menace requires urgent intervention, with all hands on deck, particularly from social and change agents such as the media, religious groups, families, and peer groups. The campaign should begin within families, which should urgently discourage their members from pursuing wealth by any means necessary. Unfortunately, families are often complicit, pushing their children toward early wealth by comparing them to their peers who have succeeded early in life. This pressure creates a negative psychological impact on young people, driving them toward immoral paths. When these efforts backfire, the entire household suffers the consequences.
The church must also fulfill its role by preaching against ill-gotten wealth. Unfortunately, the opposite is often true, with rewards for hard work among honest members being overshadowed by a cash-and-carry approach. The rot within the church has deepened to the point where individuals without visible means of livelihood or with questionable sources of wealth are rewarded with prestigious positions and ordinations. Church titles and positions, which should be based on merit and character, are now often bought. The church is, in fact, worse off in this regard, with positions being fought over more fiercely than in the secular world.
The media, too, must step up its campaigns against internet fraud and other forms of illicit wealth. The media should fulfill its social responsibility by reporting decently and avoiding content that celebrates illegal wealth. Such content can have a “hypodermic needle effect,” influencing the public negatively.
Society as a whole must rise to the occasion. Traditional rulers should ensure that chieftaincy titles are not given to just anyone but to individuals of unquestionable integrity. The era of cash-and-carry chieftaincy conferment must end.
This trend is an evil wind that benefits no one. The time to address it is now.
