In American movies, the moment an alien lands, it’s captured by the authorities and locked away—its strange abilities studied, dissected, and harnessed for military purposes. However, if such an event unfolded in Nigeria, the storyline would veer in a wildly different direction. Here, if an extraterrestrial being ever appeared, the immediate public reaction wouldn’t involve scientific inquiry or government containment. Instead, the alien would be forced to vomit cash. This is not satire—it’s a grim but honest reflection of a society where nearly all desires orbit the gravitational pull of wealth. Our fantasies, our fears, and even our ideas about the supernatural are inexorably tied to the pursuit of money.
From the religious sphere to the entertainment industry, this obsession is hard to miss. Nigerian cinema, particularly Nollywood, rarely explores contact with non-human entities in the way Hollywood does. Instead of pondering extraterrestrial mysteries, our own otherworldly narratives often revolve around individuals bargaining with mystical forces for riches. The archetypal story isn’t about discovery—it’s about financial gain through any means, including rituals believed to summon wealth.
The Tragic Intersection of Superstition and Crime
This cultural fixation on supernatural wealth manifests most disturbingly in recurring stories of ritual killings, often tied to the myth of “money rituals.” A recent chilling example comes from Enugu, where a so-called traditional healer, Obi Obieze, was caught preparing to sacrifice a 13-year-old girl. His arrest reignited debates about the ethics and practices of traditional spiritual leaders. Disappointingly, much of the discourse focused on how his actions supposedly breached the “ethical code” of native doctors, rather than questioning the very foundation of belief in money rituals.
This response reveals just how entrenched the myth of supernatural wealth generation remains. It also underscores the convenient acceptance that traditional religious practitioners possess the power to manipulate spiritual forces for monetary gain. Ironically, this belief persists even among those who outwardly practice Christianity or Islam—many of whom secretly consult native doctors when desperate.
Institutional Disdain for Indigenous Beliefs—Yet a Paradoxical Reverence
The contradiction is stark: while society publicly vilifies indigenous spiritual systems, it simultaneously attributes extraordinary powers to their priests. This paradox helps explain why state governments, such as the administration of Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo, continue to destroy shrines believed to be empowering criminal elements. Yet history tells us this approach is flawed. During colonial rule, British forces also demolished shrines across Igboland, only to witness a surge in the people’s spiritual fervor. The more these belief systems are repressed, the more mystical potency is ascribed to them.
This cultural entrenchment has bred a generation deeply invested in the perceived powers of traditional priests—not for ethical guidance or spiritual enlightenment, but for their supposed ability to perform miracles, especially financial ones. Many believers are less concerned with the moral teachings of these faiths and more focused on what they can extract from them materially.
Religion as a Tool for Material Gain, Not Moral Uplift
A few years ago, during a religious conference in Nigeria, researchers presented data on the growing number of Nigerians abandoning Christianity and Islam in favor of indigenous religions. Surprisingly—or perhaps not—the primary motivation wasn’t a spiritual awakening or moral clarity. Instead, most converts cited the need for a deity who responds quickly and tangibly—someone who, metaphorically speaking, “answers by fire.” Essentially, people are no longer looking for moral transformation; they are hunting for magical results.
Unfortunately, the cultural sector—especially Nollywood—fuels this trend. The industry rarely depicts traditional belief systems as frameworks for ethical living or social reform. Instead, these systems are often reduced to cartoonish portrayals of vengeful spirits or money-making gods. This misrepresentation strips indigenous religions of their philosophical and moral depth, turning them into little more than ATM machines powered by blood and incantations.
Debunking the Myth: There’s No Such Thing as Magical Money
It must be stated unequivocally: there is no such thing as a real money ritual. No spell, no incantation, and no sacrifice—human or otherwise—can produce legal tender from nothing. The myth of money rituals survives because it exploits ignorance and desperation. A close examination of police reports and confession statements reveals a clear pattern. Those arrested for ritual-related crimes generally fall into two categories: cunning deceivers who exploit gullible followers, and genuinely misguided individuals who believe in the power of rituals to generate cash.
The latter are the most tragic. They often commit horrific crimes believing the blood of a victim can unlock a secret doorway to riches. And while no money materializes, they sometimes find a gruesome profit in the sale of human organs—thereby fueling a hidden economy cloaked in mysticism. These individuals are often visibly destitute, with every wrinkle and worn-out item of clothing testifying to long-standing poverty. They do not look like men who’ve tasted wealth. Rather, they resemble people who would faint if handed a million naira in cash.
The Myth Breaks Down Under Modern Scrutiny
If these ritualists really understood how the modern financial system works, they would recognize the absurdity of their beliefs. Money, as it exists today, is a construct of modern economies and governments. The idea that ageless spirits—supposedly predating currency itself—can produce naira or dollars is not just illogical, it’s laughable. Are these spirits now equipped with Central Bank printing presses? Have they upgraded to digital banking to keep up with the rise of cryptocurrency and online transactions?
The term “money ritual” itself has been badly misunderstood. Our ancestors who coined it likely meant something far less literal. During the colonial and slave-trading eras, they saw sudden, unexplained wealth emerge without visible labor and tried to explain it within their cultural framework. Today’s interpretation, which links wealth to human sacrifice, distorts that context beyond recognition.
The Real Horror: Psychological and Moral Collapse
Obieze’s case exemplifies the psychological manipulation that underpins the money ritual myth. The discovery of the young girl’s body in a sewage pit—hidden inside a building that doubled as a shrine—speaks to a calculated strategy: weaponizing guilt and fear to keep clients loyal. Any person who believes their wealth comes from a charm soaked in innocent blood becomes bound by either madness or moral numbness. In the worst cases, their deadened conscience makes them capable of even greater evil in pursuit of wealth.
This psychological shift—not spiritual transformation—is the actual power behind money rituals. It isn’t about spirits creating banknotes. It’s about eroding the moral compass so thoroughly that nothing is off limits. Once a person is willing to kill for money, they are prepared to do anything else. Their ruthlessness may indeed yield material rewards—not through magic, but through crime and manipulation.
Conclusion: A Culture in Desperate Need of Ethical Awakening
The myth of the money ritual is a symptom of a deeper illness—an unrelenting obsession with wealth in a society where too many see morality as an obstacle to success. Our fixation on magical shortcuts to riches has created a culture vulnerable to exploitation, violence, and psychological decay. It is long past time we addressed the real issues: poverty, ignorance, and the collapse of ethical frameworks.
We must reject the lie that money can be conjured through blood and ritual. True prosperity can only emerge from hard work, education, opportunity, and the courage to demand better from ourselves and our leaders. Until we shift our cultural narrative away from magical thinking and toward real social and economic reform, the tragic stories of human sacrifice in the name of wealth will continue to haunt us.
