Combating Campus Cultism: Lessons from OAU

The students of Obafemi Awolowo University are currently commemorating the death of five students who were massacred by members of Black Axe Confraternity, in July 10, 1999. George Iwilade, Eviano Ekeimu, Yemi Ajiteru, Babatunde Oke and Godfrey Ekpede were slaughtered in cold blood in the wee hours of the fateful day. The horrible event didn’t go or slide away unchallenged.

The generation of students’ union leaders at the period mobilized their fellows and rose to the occasion. They immediately swung into action, apprehended some of the suspected cultists and handed them over to the police. Although numerous occurrences have thwarted all efforts to bring the perpetrators of the cult – attack to book, the ugly incident became a symbol of resistance against neo – fascist elements on OAU campus. The students who paid the supreme price were therefore immortalized and their remembrance comes up annually.

A three – day programme has been traditionally dedicated as a mark of honor for the victims in the aftermath of the orchestrated attack. On every July 8, OAU students often troop out to sign a book of condolences which is traditionally placed at the front of Students’ Union Building in reawakening the spirit of the deceased. After the condolence register, there comes anti – cultism parade and sensitization against engagement in cult – like related activities on July 9. The most remarkable day of the commemoration is July 10. On this day, a public symposium is organized where notable former students’ union leaders often speak on dire consequences and horror which cultism begets.

Every generation of students is properly sensitized on how cultism kills dream chasers faster than death. The sensitization has made the university community hostile to cult – like activities. The blood of the five gruesomely murdered students has continued to water the flower of freedom on the campus. Cultism has become a relic of history. In OAU, supremacy of arguments has been the greatest tool to resolve conflict among students as against the survival of the fittest in some other tertiary institutions.

OAU students have set a mechanism to utterly combat cult – like related activities on the campus. Ironically, cultism has become a pride among students in many other higher institutions across the country despite loss of lives and recorded casualties regularly emanated from rival clashes, battle of supremacy and some other criminal activities. It has become a norm to affiliate with one cult group or the other. It is high time other students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions broke from the yoke of cultism and set a tradition or legacy in eradicating cultism. This remains the only device to guarantee a serene campus, safety of lives, future careers and dreams.

Binzak Azeez, Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife