DANGERS OF CULTISM IN OUR SOCIETY

 DANGERS OF CULTISM IN OUR SOCIETY

Written by Mbibi Longinus Chinagorom/mbibilonginuschinagorom@gmail.com

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1979, section 35 (4) defined a secret society as a society or an association, not being solely cultural or religious body, that uses secret signs, oaths, rites or symbols".

 Cultism in whatever form it takes, involves some forms of secrecy in its membership and operations. Rituals, secrecy signs, oath taking, rites and use of symbols are often used. Rigorous rituals and oath-taking comes up in their operations and in the initiation of new members.

The beginning of cultism in Nigeria can be traced back beyond the old empire regimes in which cults welded much influence on the society; call them cabal or mafia. From the early 1930s in Nigeria, secret societies started springing up in the society especially among the few educated elites, the royalties and the bourgeois. Cults like ogboni, Amoc, Dlawrence etc held sway. They kept on increasing to include other shrine worshippers like the Sango, Ogun, Obatala, Igwekala, Amadioha, Owegbe etc.

In tertiary institutions in Nigeria, secret cult activities started within the first decade of the existence of university education. Precisely, it started through the activities of a small group of "rascal" at the University of Ibadan. The first of such group was the Pirates. As "Pirates", they sailed to high sea to "prosecute" evil doers, injustice, corruption and oppression which characterized the few universities at that time.

Objectively, it should be noted that the purpose of the formation of the groups such as the Pirates, Buccaneers, the Black Axe and the Dragons was to fight injustice. Thus the pioneer secret cultists saw themselves as frontrunners in the fight to liberate themselves and fellow students from oppressive forces of some of their lecturers and government machinery. For the cults in the larger society, it was claimed they could protect members from attacks of enemies both physical and spiritual as well as make them wealthy and influential in the society.

While the growth of cults in the larger society is minimal, those of the higher institutions have been growing in leaps and bound. There are presently about 32 secret cults/confraternities in our educational institutions nation wide. Their names are as frightening as their operations. Their objectives have shifted from the protection of fellow students to intimidation of fellow students and lecturers. They now abduct, kidnap, maim, rob, rape and harass innocent students, lecturers on whoever they perceive to be standing on their way. In fact, their activities are no longer restricted to the campuses. Their initiations are deadly and horrowful conflicts often arise within a group leading to break ups. Perhaps, this accounts for why the number is always on the increase.

Many young people are killed in inter and intra cult conflict; some are maimed for life while others carry ugly users on their body for life.

Cultism has generated a lot of fear and tension in our schools and society at large. These are in insecurity as well as endangering lives and so must be checked.

One of the steps which seems to have made impact in our campuses is the expulsion of caught secret cult members though they sometimes managed to gain entry into another university because we have no coordinated admission system. Another step should be for parents to closely monitor their children's movement, the company they keep and the things they find interest in: including their discussions. Schools should provide good accomodation for their students. Off campus residence is a breeding ground for cult activities and should be discouraged.

It is also necessary to have a well planned orientation programme for new students. Cult groups often take advantage of the ignorance of new students and lure them into joining them before the realize what it is all about. 

Repentant ex-cultist should be used to lecture students on the dangers of being a cultist and the futility of its venture. As matter of urgent need, every school should have a functional counseling unit to help students in need. This will help some of the students who join secret cults as a result of ignorance and frustration. Lecturers on their part should not constitute themselves into stumbling blocks. Sexual harassment and sorting of all sorts should be prohibited and where they are established to have taken place lead to summary dismissal of the lecturers involved.

Conclusively, it is a known fact that cultism is a deep rooted malady plaguing our society today. It has generated fear, tension and insecurity. Many lives have been lost in inter and intra cult fracas as well as their devilish initiation sessions. Armed robbery, rape, abduction, kidnapping and ritual murder, harassment and greed for cheap success and popularity are some of the dangers and threats of secret societies/confraternities. There is therefore need for concerted efforts to be made and powerful awareness campaign to be mounted through symposia, workshops and seminars to enable people to be aware of dangers of cultism in our society. With determination and join effort, we will stamp out cultism in Nigeria or at worst reduce it to its barest minimum. So help us God.