THE IMPLICATIONS OF MONEY RITUAL KILLINGS ON THE MORAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE NIGERIAN YOUTHS: A STUDY OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

ABSTRACT

The broad objective of this study borders on the implication of money ritual killings on the moral development of Nigerian youths using undergraduate students of the university of Benin, Benin city, as case study. The research design adopted for this study is the survey method used in data collection. It is used to obtain the peoples opinion through the questionnaire. The sampling technique adopted for this research is purposive sampling technique. The researchers purposively selected 150 respondent who are Youths in the university of Benin, Benin city, was drawn as the sample size for the study. Data was analyzed using simple percentage in frequencies and tables. Hypothesis test was conducted using Chi-Square Statistical package for social science (SPSS). Findings of the study reveals that youths involvement in money ritual killings has the potency of undermining their moral development hence they cannot uphold societal norms and values like hard work, honesty, respect for elders, cooperation, self reliance, decent dressing, among others. Additionally, the high rate of money ritual killings contributes to moral decadence and societal deterioration thus becomes a matter that requires urgent attention in Nigerian Society. The study therefore recommends that there should be no sacred cows in terms of punishment for the ritualists. Government, Civil Societies and various Non-governmental organizations should identify ritual killing as a harmful tradition in its programs and campaigns should be carried out to expose the ignorance, superstition and rationale that underlie the belief and practice of money ritual killing in Nigeria.