On 5 August, 2004, Nigerian police arrested no fewer than 30 suspected cult leaders in Anambra state, after 50 decomposing bodies and 20 human skulls were found in raids on the fetish Okija shrine.
The head, genitals and other vital parts had been severed from some of the bodies, found in a teak forest in Okija village, a sign they may have been killed as part of a ritual.
The then Anambra Police Command Spokesman, Kolapo Shofoluwe confirmed to the media that police saw more than 50 bodies in various coffins and there were several skulls, some of which were really fresh.
Shofoluwe said preliminary investigations showed that the victims died after cult leaders engaged them in an animist ritual.
Residents of Ubahu-Ezike, a small town near one of the shrines, said they were afraid to go near the shrine because men faithful to the deities were waiting there to attack outsiders.
They said a small group of "high priests" had exploited the traditional religion and turned it into a big money-spinning operation.
An anonymous teacher in Ubahu-Ezike said those juju priests are very fraudulents.
“They have been using the shrines to extort money from innocent people. They ride the best cars in the community and build fine, fine houses. Nobody dares challenge them, not even the traditional ruler."
As part of the ritual, police said, the victims pledged their property, including bank accounts, to a deity upon their death.
Their relations were made to believe they would also die if they refused to give up the property.
"We are looking beyond the deity," Mr. Shofoluwe said, adding that at least 20 shrines were raided.
"The priests may have killed the people for ritual, or to obtain their property by false pretence or they may have been running a human-parts market."
Ritual killing has been a recurring problem in some parts of Nigeria, where many people believe they can become wealthy by using human organs to make potent charms.
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