The cult is defined as a “clandestine organisation with its aims and objectives known only to its members”. It is a group of people about whom nothing is known, nothing is heard, nothing is seen, but things can be felt and seen about them.
Historically, cultism started in Nigeria at the University of Ibadan with the Pirate Confraternity (Ahoi- seadog) founded by Prof. Wole Soyinka in 1952. Members were to function as custodian of moral rectitude with extraordinary academic standing. Then the University had many other social academic clubs like the Debating society, the Dramatic society and Christian societies. Within 20 years different cult groups with geniue positive motive sprang up and they operated on University campuses.
Among the Cult Organisations are Neo Black Movement of Africa (black axe), Buccaneers (Alora-sealords), Vikings Confraternity, the Maff-fight, the Mafia (Ciao-sons), the supreme Eiye Confraternity also known as the National Association of Air Lords.
Female cult groups include the red Scorpions, Black Bra, Daughters of Jezebel, Amazon, Blue Queens among others. All these groups combined with the real academic programmes made university education glamour, interesting and produced a sound university culture. Some of our prominent leaders today were or are members their motive among others were to fight against oppression that the then colonial masters imposed on the people, and to move the country forward.
Some of their achievements which students still enjoy today on campuses included mode of dressing, freedom of speech, free movement, student union government and the famous name that is written on the students union government car popularly known as “Aluta Continua Victoria Asserta” meaning struggle continues and an injury to one is injury to all.
But today all these have changed. According to Mr. James U.I Isekhure, a renounced member of the supreme Eiye in his book Secret Cult Activities in Our Schools and Society Today, “Since the early 1990’s when every dick and harry were initiated into cult group and they began to alter the original motives behind the creation of confraternities, the cults became evil in nature. Cult related killings are now daily occurrences”.
“For instance initially if you were not already a student, you cannot be initiated no matter how rich or famous you are in the society. But today Agberos, bus and taxi drivers, conductors, mechanics, carpertenters, are now members of these associations, taking blood oaths, fighting with dangerous weapons, destruction of lives and properties, stealing e.t.c.” He stated.
For instance, between July 2009 and September 2010 no fewer than 113 persons were reportedly killed in Edo and Delta States as a result of cult-related violence. Available record indicates that among all suspected criminals paraded by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies in Nigeria 75 percent of them admitted to be members of various cults and their activities were cult-driven.
On Monday, July 10, 2011 a severed head of a student identified as Obanor Larry was conspicuously placed at the main entrance of College of Education, Ekiadolor in Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State. Weeks later one Osagie Omorodion and David Osajie were arrested by the police as suspects in the barbaric killing. During their parade, they confessed to be members of Black axe as their leader who sources say is still at large ordered the killing.
On Friday, May 10, 2013 a retired police inspector Mr. Samuel Ayayi, 82 was abducted and buried alive in an evil forest in Ewudu village, Ovia North-East Local government area, Edo State, the then AIG Zone 5. Mr. Hashimu Argugun paraded eight suspects whose gang leader one Osamudiamen Uwaila told Journalists that some of them were members of a cult gang.
On Wednesday, March 16, 2016 a 65 year old retired headmistress Mrs. Clara Uwaifo was shot dead by a gunman in broad day light in front of her residence at 27, Oviawe Street, off upper Siluko road, Egor, Benin City. The then Public Relations Officer, Edo State police command DSP Abiodun Osifo identified the gunman as Happy Agbangbayan, a teenage cultist and serial killer on police list of wanted persons. He is yet to be apprehended. \
On Saturday, July 8, 2017 a Journalist with the Nigerian Television Authority NTA, Mr. Lawrence Okojie was shot dead few meters to his residence after he closed from work about 8pm. The then Police Commissioner in the state CP Haliru Gwandu said the journalist was killed by cultists who mistook him for a member of a rival cult gang. The killers are still at large.
On Thursday, June 22, 2017 some armed men killed a 41 year old bus driver Samuel Irabor even as his 78 year old father Pa. Daniel Irabor begged to be killed in place of his son when the cultists invaded their family residence at 9 Eguavoen lane, off Odeh Street, Ogida, Benin City.
On Wednesday, August 30 2017 a blind-folded corpse in a sitting position was found in a church at 1, Aigbe Street, off Igbama Street, Upper Siluko road Benin City. The yet to be identified victim was said to be a victim of cult reprisal attack.
On Saturday, July 8, 2017 about 8pm along Giwegure- Navy Road at Ovom, Yenogoa Local Government area of Bayelsa State, Military Cadet one Saviour Enoch was shot dead by suspected cultists.
Between March 17 and 19, 2017 a supremacy war between two notorious rival cults left 10 persons including a lecturer, dead and several others injured in Calabar, Cross River State. Confirming the killings the Public Relations officer for the state command Mrs. Irene Ugbo said “The police are doing their best to stop the cult war, no arrest has been made so far”.
Just recently, a stray bullet fired by a member of Badoo Cult group reportedly hit and killed an eleven year old school girl in Lagos. These are few cases of criminal and agonizing operations of cultists in our nation. Great, intelligent, industrious, dependable and promising youths have been consumed by the evil of cultism ravaging Nigeria with impunity. It has reduced our immediate environment to a theatre of war where both the weak and strong cannot boast of the security of their lives and property.
Mrs. Idaho Bello whose husband was killed by cultists in Naibawa area of Kano lamented that life took a sorrowful twist of the incident. “Three months after they killed my husband my landlord evicted us I relocated to Benin with my four children, two of whom have stopped school.
They are 11 and 9 years, they assist me in this my pure water business. Government is not serious with the fight against cultism. Some government officials are members even security agents. Till now, nobody was arrested or invited in connection to the brutal murder of my husband. “Few days to his murder he made a formal complaint to the police about a neighbour who threatened to deal with him over a minor dispute”. She narrated.
Investigation and opinion pool carried out indicted government at all levels of handling cultism with kid gloves. Commenting on the challenges faced by Edo state police command in tackling cult-related violence, killings and destruction of public and private property, the command spokesman, DSP Moses Nkombe said cultism is an offence against the state. He stated that from statistics at the police command cultism is the highest crime committed in Nigeria.
DSP Nkombe said several arrests have been made by operatives of the command but maintained that the duty of the police is to arrest, investigate and prosecute as it is not the duty of the police to apportion punishment.
He stated that between January and October 27, 2017 the command had recorded over 300 convictions. The police spokesman stated that the law says that before any cultist can be convicted he or she must be met in the act of initiation. “Seeing somebody wearing cult regalia alone is not enough to say he is a cultist. The person must have also confessed to the crime DSP Nkombe stated.
In 2015, the State Police command under the leadership of CP Chris Ezike arrested over 295 suspected cultists including top government functionaries alleged to have been involved in several cases of killings recorded in Edo State that period.
The Commissioner of Police later informed the press that 270 of the suspects were arraigned before a special court at the State Police command conference hall. The special court was put up because the state judiciary staff embarked on strike that lasted several months. But the number of convictions secured in the process remained unknown as many of the suspects went back to the street soon after.
A legal practitioner and human right activist who does not want his name mentioned sued for a strong and enforceable legislation to deal with the scourge. He also enjoined law enforcement agents to set up and equip special squad with a mandate to arrest, investigate and prosecute cultists and their patrons.
Illegal assemblage should be redefined in our constitution to include gathering for clandestine intention. Any suspected cultist caught with arms and amunition should be taken as armed robber and arraigned before a competent court as such. Parents, guardians, traditional religious and community leaders should condemn and combat cultism with all the seriousness it currently deserves before it consumes all of us as a people and nation.
