Five Nigerians sentenced to prison for digging up skull in quest for wealth

Five men in Nigeria have each been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the crime of exhuming a human skull. The men admitted their guilt after being caught with the skull in their possession. Their intention was to deliver it to a traditional doctor who claimed it was necessary for rituals that would bring them wealth. According to the prosecutor, the men had dug up a body that had been buried three years ago in a Muslim cemetery in Niger state. They claimed to have been directed by a herbalist who promised them a share of the wealth obtained through this criminal act. The men, aged between 18 and 28, were apprehended by security officers in early September while transporting the remains to a third party. The court in Minna, the capital of Niger state, found the men guilty of criminal conspiracy, trespassing on burial grounds, and unlawfully possessing a human skull. Interestingly, the traditional doctor involved in the case was not arrested or charged. Belief in the power of "juju" or magic is quite prevalent in Nigeria, often combined with Christianity or Islam. A report by the Pew Research Centre in 2010 revealed that these beliefs often connect human body parts and charms to wealth generation from clay pots. Consequently, these beliefs have contributed to a surge in gruesome murders targeting vulnerable individuals such as children, single women, and people with disabilities. Local authorities have also reported the sale and use of body parts in rituals believed to yield monetary benefits. The drive for money-making rituals in Nigeria is further fueled by the country's economic desperation, with World Bank data showing that four out of 10 people live in poverty.