The former president of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC), Bishop Dr. Kortu K. Brown, has called on religious leaders across Africa to unite in a continent-wide campaign to end ritualistic killings and human sacrifice — practices he described as “as old as Africa itself.”
Bishop Brown made the call Friday, October 24, 2025, at the Africa Colloquium Against Human Trafficking: A United Front Against Ritual Abuse and Sacrifice, hosted in Lagos by the Sudreau Global Justice Institute of Pepperdine University (California, USA) in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.
Speaking during the colloquium’s fourth session which explored the role of faith leaders and civil society in combating ritual abuse, Bishop Brown urged churches, mosques, and other religious institutions to mobilize at community, national, and regional levels to challenge the cultural and spiritual justifications that perpetuate ritual killings.
“This is a serious fight,” Bishop Brown said. “If we must address it, we must properly mobilize and organize religious leaders across the continent to lead a campaign to stem the practices of ritualistic killings and human sacrifice in Africa.”
The session, attended by Christian and Muslim clerics, scholars, and civil society representatives, examined the spiritual dimensions of ritual abuse, including the influence of mysticism and the role of traditional healers, witch doctors, and diviners. Participants emphasized that both the Bible and the Quran condemn such acts, and that faith leaders are scripturally obligated to defend the innocent and speak out against evil.
Citing Proverbs 31:8–9, Bishop Brown reminded religious leaders of their moral duty to “speak for those who cannot speak for themselves” and “defend the rights of the destitute.” When asked why ritual killings remain prevalent in countries dominated by Christianity and Islam, Bishop Brown attributed the persistence of the practice to weak spiritual conviction among some believers and enduring cultural beliefs linking human sacrifice to wealth, fertility, and power.
“One of the elements of culture that trigger ritual abuse and sacrifice is the belief that such acts bring benefits,” he said. “Many believe these practices can bring good fortune, children, appease deities, or secure victory during elections.”
He pointed to Liberia as an example, noting that reports of ritualistic killings and missing persons often surge during election seasons. “People want power but want other people’s children’s blood to help them acquire it. This is wrong,” he stressed. Bishop Brown urged African faith leaders to take collective action through education, advocacy, and reform of harmful traditional norms. “Religious leaders must rise across the continent and confront this menace through community sensitization, challenging harmful practices, reframing beliefs, supporting victims, and collaborating with other actors,” he said.
In a joint statement, Sudreau Global Justice Institute Executive Director Prof. Cameron McCollum and Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Lawal Pedro (SAN, FCIArb) expressed hope that the colloquium would serve as a turning point in Africa’s fight against human trafficking and ritual abuse. They said the gathering provided “a platform for leaders, advocates, practitioners, and policymakers to develop actionable strategies” to eliminate human exploitation in all its forms and strengthen collaboration between governments and faith-based institutions.
