Why cultism persists in schools

Universities, colleges of education and polytechnics were peaceful in the past until cult members invaded their premises forcing innocent students to live in fear. Cultists cajole and initiate students on daily basis; the menace is there even in post-primary schools. Secret cultism is usually practiced by a group of individuals sharing certain objectives and beliefs […]

Universities, colleges of education and polytechnics were peaceful in the past until cult members invaded their premises forcing innocent students to live in fear. Cultists cajole and initiate students on daily basis; the menace is there even in post-primary schools.
Secret cultism is usually practiced by a group of individuals sharing certain objectives and beliefs and bound by oaths with the sole aim of promoting the group’s self-interest to the detriment of others.
The major challenges facing tertiary institutions in Nigeria today include the violent behaviour of cult members and cult-related activities. Cultism often leads to killing and destruction of property.
Hardly does an academic session pass without reported case of cult clashes in most Nigerian institutions. There is hardly an institution of higher learning in the country that has not experienced the menace of cultism for some time now.
Thousands of students and lecturers have died in schools in the country as a result of cult-related violent clashes. Most cult-related activities are astonishing, annoying and repugnant. Lives of promising young men and women have been cut short by the murderous cult gangs on campus.
According to one sociologist, environmental factors contributed to the rise of cultism in tertiary institutions. These include: A general atmosphere of frustration, deprivation, hopelessness, hardship and injustice brought upon the people by the socio-economic system.
Other factors include; admission of unqualified persons into tertiary institutions, who cannot cope with the intellectual demands of the academic system; uncoordinated university administrations which make it possible for non-students and expelled students to co-exist with bona-fide students; employment of cult members by some institutions and politicians; lack of committed teaching and learning, as well as poor infrastructural facilities which have led to overcrowding in classrooms, residences and libraries.
The decline of moral values has contributed to cultism; as well as poor upbringing as most homes have lost the required peace, with high divorce and separation rates, large family sizes and financial hardships also play a crucial contributory role.
Daily Trust investigation showed that cult members used many strategies to lure and recruit new members including cajoling and intimidation.
A student of Lagos State University (LASU), who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Cult groups target people who are already showing ambition of becoming cult members. They try to convince such people to join their group and not the other. They also draw attention of new students by assisting them with their registration, accommodation, etc. They make the students feel welcomed and respected by falsely giving the impression that they work for the common good and progress of humanity.”
On his part Samuel Amaele, a senior lecturer with the Department of Educational Foundations and Management, Ignatius Ajuru, University of Education, Port Harcourt, internal and external measures should be adopted in tackling cultism in tertiary institutions.
He said: “Parents must not be involved with cultism so that they can properly give their children proper awareness and moral education at home. Also admission into any tertiary institution should be based on both academic and moral merits while money or political influence should not be factors in admission. School administration policy must get rid of all academic and non-academic staff that belong to any known cult group. This will make their fight against cultism more transparent. School administrators must kick out all academic and non-academic staff that belong to any cult group. This will make their fight against cultists more transparent.
“Orientation of new students should be more comprehensive, rather than the mere formalities that are observed today. Serious counseling must be given to all new students and student affairs officers in tertiary institutions should look beyond the allocation of halls of residence and scholarship arrangements. Their roles must include personal identification and counseling of students.”
He also said citizenship and moral education should be intensified in both theory and practice and be made compulsory in tertiary institutions and taught by those that are qualified in knowledge and practice.
“Regular and unannounced checks should be embarked upon in the rooms of suspected cult members to look for telltale signs so as to remove perpetrators out of the system, he said.
“School authorities should organise open forums for students to discuss their problems and make suggestions for improving living conditions.
“The authorities, however, should not interfere, unnecessarily, in student union elections to avoid imposing leadership on the students or showing favoritism in dealing with student matters among others,” the senior lecturer said. Most parents who spoke to Daily Trust on the issue of cultism expressed concern on the increase of the activities in tertiary institutions,” he said.
Alhaji Halilu Musa said “Cultism has become rampant in our tertiary institutions. Most of us are afraid to send our children to tertiary institutions. The cult groups are powerful. They behave like they are above the law. I want to use this opportunity to call on government to take measures to tackle the menace.”
Abdulamlik Usman who resides in Abuja said, “Cult groups have taken over our tertiary institutions. We want government to rise to the challenge and fight it. I am calling on President Buhari to look into it.”