— Former LCC President Addresses Pepperdine University’s Human Trafficking Colloquium in Nigeria
LAGOS, NIGERIA — Former President of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC), Bishop Dr. Kortu K. Brown, has called on faith leaders across Africa to unite in a continent-wide campaign to end ritualistic killings and human sacrifice, which he described as a “deep-rooted cultural evil” threatening Africa’s moral conscience.
Speaking on Friday, October 24, 2025, at the Africa Colloquium Against Human Trafficking: A United Front Against Ritual Abuse and Sacrifice in Lagos, Nigeria, Bishop Brown urged organized and sustained faith-based action to confront the persistence of ritual killings on the continent.
“This is a serious fight, and it is as old as Africa itself,” Bishop Brown said. “If we must address it effectively, we must mobilize and organize religious leaders across the continent to lead campaigns at regional, national, and community levels to stop ritualistic killings and human sacrifice.”
The two-day colloquium was organized by the Sudreau Global Justice Institute at Pepperdine University (California) in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Justice. It convened policymakers, civil society actors, and religious leaders from across Africa to discuss strategies for tackling ritual abuse and human trafficking.
Speaking during the fourth session, Bishop Brown addressed the role of faith and civil society in confronting the spiritual and cultural dimensions of ritual killings. The session examined the influence of traditional healers, diviners, and witch doctors in ritual practices and presented both Christian and Muslim perspectives condemning such acts.
Citing Proverbs 31:8–9, Bishop Brown reminded participants that faith leaders have a sacred duty to “speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves” and defend the rights of the poor and vulnerable.
He lamented that despite Africa’s strong religious presence, ritual murders remain common. “In Liberia, every time there is an election, stories of ritualistic killings and missing people abound,” he said. “People want power, but they want other people’s children’s blood to help them acquire it. This is wrong.”
The Liberian clergyman, who once led a national campaign against ritual killings, urged faith leaders to intensify community awareness, challenge harmful cultural norms, support victims, and work closely with authorities to prosecute perpetrators.
In a joint statement, Prof. Cameron McCollum, Executive Director of the Sudreau Global Justice Institute, and Hon. Lawal Pedro (SAN), Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, said they hoped the conference would mark “a critical turning point in Africa’s collective effort to eradicate human trafficking and ritual abuse.”
