Cultism in Higher Institutions: The Unilesa Example

 

The unabated incidence and unrelenting activities of secret cults in the Nigerian educational institutions have wrought incalculable havoc on the lives and psyche of Nigerians. It is undeniably one of the social vices setting the hand of the developmental clock of

Nigeria backward. The unabated atrocities of secret cults in the Nigerian educational institutions and even in the wider Nigerian society continue to take tolls on the lives of many young Nigerians. Many university undergraduates, politicians, academics, the high and the mighty in the society have been hacked down in their prime by cult groups.

More disheartening is the revelation that these anti-social elements are fast penetrating the nation's secondary and even primary schools!  Findings have shown that cultism and other forms of violence are however prevalent in Nigerian universities and have increased tremendously in recent decades, reoccurring almost on daily basis.

From Rivers State to Osun, Delta to Ogun and other states like Benue, Lagos, Anambra, Ekiti and Edo, Nigerian universities and other institutions of higher learning have in recent times witnessed unprecedented insecurity, persistent violence and educational backdrop, leading to loss of many lives and properties worth millions of naira across the country. Gangs of teenagers have unleashed terror on their rivals, as well as their teachers, leading to the arrest and prosecution of some of them. At the last count, no fewer than 100 victims were reported to have died while about 300 arrests have been made across the country due to the nefarious activities to these groups.

In Osun State, violent clash between rival cult groups have become a common phenomenon around cities like Osogbo, Ilesa, Ikire, Iwo and its environs.

Unfortunately, the political ruling class engages the services of cultists, as political thugs, body guards and hired assassins to execute their plans towards winning elections. According to some revelations, some cult groups were used by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for election purposes before and during the last general election.

There are a number of other factors that contribute to cultism in tertiary institutions in Nigeria, including the need for protection, the need to exert authority or supremacy, a lack of direction or guidance, drug abuse, need for revenge among peer groups, poor school conditions, restrictions on unionization, parental influence, and others. Many other factors are linked to parents, students, institutions, and society that contributed to the prevalence of cult activities in Nigerian tertiary institutions. These factors include the breakdown of the family institution, peer pressure, school administrators, the population explosion of students, a culture of violence, and government encouragement of cultism, among others. In general, the social climate in higher institutions offers a stimulating setting for the growth of secret cults.

In most cases, the murderers escape arrest because they are serving the powers that be. They do not face the wrath of the law because the event is linked to a political godfather, who is a sacred cow in the society.  The dismayed failure of  the  government  security  apparatus  to  arrest  and  prosecute  any  suspects  in  the numerous incidences of murder in Osun and other states showed that some powerful sources had a hand in the crimes and made speaking out very unattractive and risky.  More often than not, however, it is in a clash between two cult groups, the one trying to demonstrate its stronger devilish powers over the other.  The cultists strike in one Nigerian educational institution today and a reprisal occurs the next day in another institution, claiming lives in both cases.

It is in the light of this that Professor Taiwo Asaolu, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilesa, came out boldly and daringly against any anti-social groupings on its campus during the maiden edition of its matriculation ceremony held recently at the university’s multi-purpose hall

According to him, opportunities are given associations and groups that register with the Directorate of Student Affairs to operate in the University. Religious and social groups are accepted as veritable units for the character moulding of the university’s students.

‘‘Unauthorized groups will not be allowed to function in the University, any attempt to force itself to operate will be severely sanctioned,’ he told the students. ‘‘The University does not permit the activities of any anti-social groups operating on the campus. In particular, membership of cult groups is prohibited and offenders will be summarily expelled.’’

He warned the students in clear terms ‘‘If you are already one, you are advised to renounce and voluntarily present yourself to the University for counseling, rehabilitation and reintegration into the society. You are urged not to succumb to any threat to join any antisocial group, in case there is pressures from any unregistered

group, concerned students are advised to report at appropriate units of the University.’’

The vice chancellors of all universities in the country must emulate this gesture and come out boldly to collectively condemn cultism in its entirety. They must also be seen to be leading by example.

Osun State Government is also urged to enacted a Law for the Prohibition of Abduction, Hostage Taking, Kidnapping, Secret  Cults and Similar Activities in the State and for Purposes connected therewith. The law should be intended to stem the tide of cultism and related vices in the State by prescribing maximum jail term for offenders.

Eradicating cultism and other forms of violence on our campuses also required the eradication of the agents, agencies, and social contexts that produce and reproduces it. The dynamics of these broad societal and internal campus-based forces that produce cultism and other forms of violence must be clearly understood. The role of some highly placed members of our society such as patrons, sponsors, politicians, lecturers and highly placed persons in the government as well as military and paramilitary personnel located within and outside our campuses must be under close watch.  A recent occurrence where some cult groups were invited by an highly placed king in Osun State to settle to warring factions and at the end of the day, the leaders of the groups were given brand new cars to appease them must be discouraged henceforth.

We should be bold enough to take on broader social forces like student’s material conditions, interference in students’ union affairs, the repressive and extortionate practices of academic and other university staff, insecurity within and outside campuses, worsening conditions of teaching and in some clear instances, ritualistic techniques in the demobilization of radical activism in university campuses. Such measures are necessary for the vice-chancellors and heads of other higher educational institutions to take in eradicating cultism on our campuses in the country.