CULTISM: CANKER TO EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
From Black Axe to Aiye and Buccaneers confraternities and so on, many Nigeria youths have given up their lives and future to these dastardly groups because they were ill-advised about the heart wrenching perils that awaits them.
What is now bastardized as cultism has its root in the pirate confraternity found by Professor Wole Shoyinka and others in the 60s, the Pirate confraternity was an adventurous organization founded by a band of exuberant young men, whose agenda were noble; it was to demonstrate freedom and nationalism which the youths believed the university environment bestowed on the students.
They engaged in regular and plans of action to make members become notable and respectable on campus.
Furthermore, they champions human rights, formed a vanguard against colonialism, engaged in charity works and engage in various community developments.
The objectives has been defeated as nowadays many splinter confraternities has emerged since then and this are what we now know today as cults in our higher institutions who are tormenting not only their fellow cult members but also innocent students and members of the public.
The statistics of the dastardly act according to police reports confirmation of these groups are startling, frightening and breath taking.
Police Public Relations Officer, Kwara state confirmed that May 7th 2015, cult war in the state polytechnic claims two mothers – two mothers were killed when cultists attacked the homes of some of their targets and could not find them and vented their frustrations on their mothers.
Furthermore, Police Public Relations Officer, Edo state confirmed that May 14th 2015, four Edo state government officials arrested over cult activities. “the issue of cultism as gone far beyond only higher institutions of learning as it is unfortunate that our primary and secondary schools are veritable grounds for breeding cultists, for example on May 20th 2015, fourteen secondary schools students were arrested for engaging in cultism” he explained.
According to anti cultism law of Rivers state, the massive initiation of children into more than 150 cult groups and the arrest of seven secondary school kingpins in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state in 2012, opened our eyes to the rot at the secondary school level in Nigeria.
Worried by the rise in cultism in primary schools, the President Muhammad Buhari has called on the National Assembly to enact tougher laws against cultists and those engaging in examination malpractices.
Education Minister, Comrade Adamu Adamu said the eradication of cultism was a national project for all stakeholders in the country as campuses of higher institutions had been turned into breeding grounds for cultist, an avenue for the practice of immoralities and a base for grooming terrorists.
He added that there had been recommendations in the past to curtail cultism, but the greatest challenge was implementation. “If we must succeed in eradicating cultism in Nigeria institutions, all hands must be on deck. Parents, religious organizations and both members and non-members of the government are to work jointly on this measure.”
Buhari who called for a re-orientation of our children said government would leave no stone unturned in its efforts to curb the activities of cultists and their sponsors.
Attributing the rise in cultism to the complicity of some desperate politicians, President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Com. Dauda Mohammed, said “it is frightening to see the depth at which the menace of cultism has eating deep into our educational system, particularly with its incursion into the secondary school levels, and we expect government to take a decisive step in checkmating cult activities on our campuses and also taking practical steps in bringing the sponsors of these cult groups to book”
Muhammed urged the National Assembly to also repeal the military decree of the recommendations of the General Abisoye panel which made students unionism voluntary rather than compulsory for students in our higher institutions.
How to identify cultists in secondary schools, most school prone ti these acts are not fenced while those that are fenced are not high enough, making them prone to such things. The question is how do you know such students?
- They hardly stay in class to study and are fond of moving aimlessly trying to recruit new students or trying to disturb the peace of the class and also disturb the students who refuse to join.
- They don’t obey laws and orders that have been laid down by the school authorities. If it is a mixed school, they are fond of toasting girls and any one who refuses would be beaten seriously or ganged rapped.
- They are known to put on certain colours of attires like black, red, yellow berets, so also they put on mufflers with different colours, depending on the cult gang they belong to. Some put on the chaplet; it is either yellow or those mixed with different colours, with the same bangles especially yellow depending on which group they belong to.
In a different opinion by a community leader, Sango area, Com. Adebayo Olakunle, he said cultism in the society has its implications. When cultists clash and it results in a crisis, businesses are affected and ultimately, the economy. It hampers the educational progress of students and affects their relationship with other members of the society.
That cultism has taken precedence in lives of our youths, who are fondly referred to as leaders of tomorrow, should give any right-minded person serious cause for concern. We therefore, urge that urgent steps should be taken to address this problem, which is becoming a fad among the youth. Many brilliant but misguided youth have sadly lost their lives to this menace, but despite the inherent dangers, many more youths still find it attractive. The reason for this has been traced to the fact that some politicians make use them. For the youths, the craze for quick money has been the attraction.
Parents have a role to play in protecting their children and ensuring that they are educated on the ills of this deviant behavior and its impact on their lives and the society. Law enforcements agencies must also fulfill their duties of arresting those found to be cult members regardless of who they are and ensuring they are made to face the law.