Politicians, ineffective prosecution thwart fight against cultism

The emerging transactional nature of cultism and the upsurge in cult-related violence have presented yet, another security challenge to society. With the attendant negative impact on society already manifesting, the increasing patronage of cultists by the political class, traditional and sundry leaders bode a danger to society. BERTRAM NWANNEKANMA stresses the imperative of meeting the menace with stiffer sanctions and enforcing extant laws to deter
perpetrators.

When Wole Soyinka alongside Ralph Opara, Nathaniel Oyelola, Pius Oleghe, Olumuyiwa Awe, Ikpehare Aig-Imoukhuede, and Slyvanus Egbuche, among others, founded the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), popularly known as the Pyrates Confraternity in 1952, it was made to fight tribalism, which was increasingly permeating the social life of students, and the increasing population of “wealthy” students to a relatively few “poorer” students in the University College, Ibadan.

The objective of the NAS, which was formally registered under the Nigerian Land (Perpetual Succession) Act Cap 98, led to the formation of other such groups like Supreme Eiye Confraternity in 1958, which later became the National Association of Airlords (NAA), in 1963, at the University of Ibadan, making it the second oldest confraternity after the Pyrates Confraternity.

However, these objectives over the years have been bastardised by later-day groups, a development that has led to the loss of several lives in society. Consequently, in 1989, the Federal Government promulgated the Students Union Activities (Control and Regulations) Decree 47 of 1989 to curb the incidence of student cultism in institutions of higher learning. It is now even more worrisome that this malaise has permeated all tiers of the educational system, with secondary and primary school pupils even holding the aisle. Artisans are not left out of the equation as cult groups also proliferate among mechanics, barbers, drivers, and the like.
 
Besides, cultism has also become transactional with political elites, traditional leaders, and other morally bankrupt members of the society recruiting cult members to settle scores with their perceived enemies. Oddly enough, political disputes, chieftaincy affairs, market issues, and trade union matters now have cultists in the mix articulating the interests of the characters they represent.
 
Like other metropolitan settings, the cult situation in Lagos State is worrisome as many people have been hacked down in cult-related violence. This development prompted the state Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade to, last June, lament that Nigeria is fast losing youths to cultism. He stressed that the menace has taken over every fabric of society.

Speaking in Ikeja at an event organised by the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), Fayoade said that action against cultism and drug abuse in society was expedient.

POCACOV is an initiative aimed at saving youths from the claws of cultism and other vices through advocacy, awareness creation, as well as, school and community outreaches.

He said: “Today, cultism is not only in higher institutions, it has taken over every fabric of the society; mechanics, barbers, drivers, and others are now members of cult groups. Cultists don’t do anything meaningful, but disturb the peace of the community, fighting, claiming superiority, and destroying lives and property.”

The CP said combined efforts of the government, security agencies, and citizens are crucial in combating the menace of cultism and drug abuse. Also, a certified security expert, Matthew Ibadin, aligns the situation to the law of breaking window theory, noting that if there is a system that cannot be effectively addressed by the state crops up, it gradually becomes a very big problem for society.

While acknowledging that cultism has penetrated the Nigeria University System (NUS), as well as, percolated the secondary and primary school systems, he regretted that it is now normal for people arrested with illegal arms for armed robbery to claim to be cultists to escape the law 

He said: “The problem has now degenerated and even got out of proportion because when there is no law; there is no crime. I cannot remember how many people have been jailed in Nigeria for cultism, but this is where we have the greater challenge because they mix security with politics, but politics and security are enemies. When you compromise security with politics, the result is the greater challenge that is confronting our dear nation. 

“Politicians interfere when the police arrest cultists, and they are proud to identify these lawbreakers as being part of their political parties. That means that the police are handicapped because politicians do not give them a free hand to work. This is the problem that we are facing,” said Ibadin.
 
A recent report by the Partnerships Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) revealed that cult clashes and gun violence caused over 180 fatalities in Edo State between January 2021 and December 2023.
 
Also, a recent weekly update by a group, the P4P Peace Map showed an increase in cult-related deaths in the state. PIND noted that gang violence is a major cause of insecurity in the state, mainly driven by the struggle for supremacy and territorial control among rival cult gangs, as well as vigilante violence, conflict over the collection of illegal levies, and general criminality.

Similarly, about 24 people, including a traditional chief, were killed in cult-related violence that took place in Ogun State between January and June this year.

The Guardian gathered that the cult clashes were largely between members of Aiye and Eiye confraternities, while Alora/Buccaneer members were also involved in a few of the attacks.

On Friday, February 1, a notorious cultist known as Oloba was killed, while another person, Tayo Alora, was murdered on February 4 this year in an attack and reprisal between Aiye, Eiye, and Buccaneer confraternities.

According to reports, the cult clashes continued on February 7, where three people who were said to be members of the Eiye Confraternity were killed. Abeokuta recorded another cult-related violence on Sunday, March 31, which led to the killing of one Olumide Ifeoluwa, popularly known as Tescom, at the Ijeun Tuntun area of the state capital.

According to an X account, “Naija Confra,” which tracks the activities of cultists in Nigeria, an unidentified person was killed by cultists on April 2, 2024, at the Oluwo Adigbe area of Abeokuta.

A notorious cultist, who went by the name Warlord, was shot during a matriculation ceremony at DS Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, on May 18. He later died in a hospital where he was taken for treatment the same day.

Naija Confra, further recorded that a clash between members of Aiye and Eiye cult groups at Ijoko led to the killing of a person whose name was not known on May 23, 2024, when he was murdered.

On July 3, a final year student of History and Diplomatic Studies at Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, Ayinla Fabiyi, was killed by suspected cultists.Fabiyi’s death was the 25th reported casualty in cult-related violence in Ogun State between January 8 and July 3, 2024.

In Oyo State, one Kanu, suspected to be a member of the Eiye confraternity, was reportedly killed in what was alleged to be part of activities to mark what cult group – Aiye calls “7 7 Anniversary on July 7, in Ibadan.

Part of the activities to mark the 7 7-Day Celebration by Aiye Confraternity, is the initiation of new members into its fold. On the said day, some Aiye members were said to have waylaid Kanu in the area, shot and killed him on the spot.

The following day, about 121 suspects were arrested during a police clampdown as they prepared for the 7 7 Day Celebration in Benue and Plateau states. In separate statements from the Benue and Plateau Police commands, it was gathered that the suspects were arrested at different locations across the states.
 
The National President of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), the umbrella body of all registered and licensed private security companies in the country, Davidson Aikhmen, blamed the situation on the failure of the family, saying it is no longer secret.

According to him, there is a high pursuit of materialism in our society and it just shows how society has descended from the high moral standards that we used to have. 

“You can tell your children not to do some things, but if you’re also in the practice of what you are telling them to desist from, then you’re wasting your time. So, I think that we need a moral revolution in our country. Those of us who are leaders in every aspect of life should take a critical look at ourselves. Our parental leadership, political leadership, community leadership, traditional leadership, and indeed leadership at all levels must be re-evaluated in light of what is good, what is just, what is righteous, and what is fair. 

“Before people used to have honour for men who earned their wages through diligent labour, but today, respect is given to men who earn their wages through questionable means. Even traditional rulers bestow these men of questionable integrity with titles,” he added.

On his part, a former official of the State Security Services (SSS), Endurance Iyawa, said a multi-faceted approach is needed, including education, job creation, community engagement, family support, law enforcement, community-based initiatives, counseling services, community engagement, job training programmes, among others to curb cultism.

The Ogun State Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Dr Samson Popoola, if members of the political class refrain from patronising cultists, the situation could be effectively tamed.

“Politicians are making use of these characters, and we know that they are the faces that we see at political rallies, during chieftaincy matters, in tussles for the control of motor parks or markets. For as long as we continue to rely on them for, or in politics, the menace will subsist. As long as we continue to have people encouraging them, they will continue to fester. I’ve seen situations where people are caught and before you know it somebody up there in government will call and say those are our boys,” he said.

Poopola lamented the loss of ethical values in society, stressing that society will pay dearly if the situation continues.

He said: “Our youths don’t have role models again. And many of those people that they now see as role models are into negative things. So, ethical values in the society have diminished. And of course, our religious leaders are not even helping us because no one is preaching morals again, everyone is preaching prosperity, and if you don’t have it, you are looked down upon.

“We are not preaching morals again. The sermon has been monetised, and leadership in churches and mosques has been monetised, so all these damages just show that people are just out to find a way to be at the top; a way to have money no matter where the money is coming from.

“As long as society continues to worship money, rather than values, good behaviour, and good etiquette we will continue to have this problem.  

“We have to go back to the basic unit of society, which is the family unit. Parents need to start acting like parents and not like foster parents or guardians. Parents are no longer there, they are even scared to talk to their children nowadays; to correct them. Parents are now fearful of their children rather than the other way around,” he added. 

For the spokesperson of Ogun State Police Command, SP Omolola Odutola, cultism is not just a societal menace, it is a crime that comes with youthful exuberance. According to her, cultism is a serious offense, that carries a life sentence, and as long as a person has been initiated, the last outcome is sudden death.

“Remember about five years back, and most recently last year, Sagamu was a no-go area, but today, the incidence of cultism in Sagamu has been contained. In August last year, a certain barber, the owner of Innovation Barbing Salon was shot by unknown gunmen suspected to be cultists whilst the police began an investigation into the matter. 

“The city of Abeokuta was very serene and quiet as regards cult-related violence until May this year when there was a slight increase in senseless acts of killings with a very disturbing pattern of gruesome dismembering of cultists’ bodies, smashing of heads with stones or other objects and using sharp objects to cut off vital organs,” she said.

Despite these incidents, SP Odutola said the police have remained resolute in their determination to prevent a reign of cultism in the state.
She solicited society’s assistance, especially in providing intelligence and information to track down cultists.