THE GROWING MENACE OF CULTISM

The authorities could do more to contain the scourge

Cult wars and gang violence have exacerbated the climate of lawlessness and fear in the polity. But more worrying is that the menace has become so widespread that armed robbers, drug peddlers and other sundry miscreants are now being recruited into the fold. In many states of the federation today, cultists of various stripes act with impunity, killing, raping, and maiming victims while causing widespread destruction. Yet the authorities seem helpless in dealing with this crime.

This anti-social behaviour is thriving because these young men and women have patrons and enablers who engage their services for dubious gains. We cannot continue to feign ignorance that many politicians use cultists as private armies to deal with their opponents and manipulate results during local and national elections. It is therefore obvious that there is a lot of dirty money to be made from the membership of such gangs. But particularly worrying is that cultism is a pervasive activity among students on our campuses, who join the groups in their bid to exercise authority in addition to exacting revenge over rival groups.

The authorities must put an end to cult activities which adversely result in destruction of property, killings, raping of fellow students and even lecturers, and disrupting the peace on our campuses. Law enforcement agencies should rise to the occasion and contain these criminal elements across the country. Proliferation of cult groups in our higher institutions of learning does not project an atmosphere that bodes well for transfer of knowledge and security of students. This can be curtailed through sensitisation and drumming to the students the evil nature of cultism through workshop, symposium, and other forms of awareness campaigns.

Four years ago, some prominent personalities were among 67 suspected cultists arrested and quizzed in Benin City by men of the special squad deployed in the Edo State capital to curb the growing killings and cult activities. In the days preceding the deployment of the police team, some criminals said to be members of ‘Eiye’, ‘Black Axe’, ‘Buccaneers’, ‘Aiye’ and ‘Jurist’ confraternities had unleashed hell on the streets of Benin. The body count was 22 dead. Among those arrested for their alleged involvement in the mayhem were 14 Junior Secondary School students between the ages of 12 and 15.

There is hardly a day when some young men and women would not fall victims to this goring spectre of criminal violence because of mostly battles for turf between rival cult groups. In many of the states, gang wars are now almost a daily fair with several innocent bystanders becoming victims. What is even more worrisome is that members of many of these gangs are also involved in kidnappings and other heinous crimes.

In August this year, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu signed the bill for the Prohibition of Unlawful Societies and Cultism of 2021 which repeals the Cultism (Prohibition) Law of 2007. The law provides for more stringent punitive measures, as well as makes its application all-encompassing and applicable to the public, as against the restriction of the previous law to students of tertiary institutions. The law stipulates a 21-year jail term for convicted cultists in the state and a 15-year jail term for anyone found guilty of abetting cultism as well as residents who willfully allow their property to be used for such meetings.

But while laws are good, enforcement is key.