Civic Education – Cultism

Civic Education

Topic: Cultism

Contents:

• Cultism
• Historical development of Cultism
• Types of Secret Cults
• Characteristics associated with Cultism
• Cult Groups in Nigerian Campuses
• Characteristics of Cult Group
• Consequences of Cultism 
• Preventive Measure against Cultism

A. Definition of Cultism

Cultism can also be called secret cult; it can be defined as an enclosed organized association devoted to the same course. Members of this group always commit themselves to oath and allegiance  which serves as their strong bond.

A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader. Secret cult could therefore be defined as a set of practices, belief system or idea whose essence is known only to the inner members and excessively admired and defended even to the point of laying down one’s life.

Cultism is a form of organization whose activities are not only exclusively kept away from the knowledge of others but such activities are carried out at odd hours of the day and they often clash with the accepted norms and values of everyday life.

The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines cult as small group of people of who have extreme religious beliefs and who are not part of any established religion.

B. Historical development of Cultism in Nigeria

Cultism started at the University College, Ibadan in 1952 when Wole Soyinka (now professor) and six others formed the Pyrates Confraternity. The remaining six are  Olumyiwa Awe, Ralph Opara, Tunji Tubi, Daige Imokhuede, Pius Olegbe and Olu Agunloye. There main objective at that time was to  elevate the social life of the university campus orderliness and discipline could be planted in the mind of the youths who were expected to be future leaders in Nigeria.

Over the years, due to doctrinal differences and inability of intending members to meet required standards of the pyrate confraternity, protestants ones started emerging like the buccaneers , mafia, vickings etc the cult begins to be infiltrated by frustrated, undisciplined and disgruntled students with shady characters with the effect that the high and and respected ideals of these cults began to wane.

Today, cultism in the Nigerian higher institutions have assuming a menacing dimension, making life in the institutions awry.

C. Types of Secret cults

Some of the cults known to exist in educational institutions in Nigeria are:

1. The mafia
2. The black axe
3. The vickings
4. Eiye confraternity
5. Mgba mgba brothers
6. KKK (Ku Klux Klan)
7. The Black Berret
8. The jurists
9. Royal Queens
10. The Air lords
11. The Vampires
12. The owl
13. The Scorpion
14. Amazon
15. Black heart etc.

D. Characteristics associated with Cultism

1. Shared experience of rituals: Each member shares with others common experience of rituals at initiation, progression and validation.
2. The use of signs and passwords: Members are taught the organization signs of danger, friendship, war and so on. However, during initiation, the color of the regalia reflects the status of members
3. Shared oaths: Each members shared the oath to keep secret till death, the treasured activities of the cultic organization.
4. They protect offending members against sanction
5. They usually operate at night
6. They have rival groups within the institutions
7. Sexual Escapades
8. Drug abuse
9. Illegal possession of firearms
10. Violent crimes like armed robbery
11. Killing of innocents students, academic and non academic staff
12. Arson, Rape, Extortion, Threats, Physical attacks, Blackmail and other inhuman practices
13. Factional struggle and war of supremacy resulting in bloody clashes between the cult groups

E. Cult Groups in Nigerian Campuses

There are many types of cult groups in tertiary institutions present in this country. They are

1. Black eye
2. Bucaneers
3. The Dragon
4. Pyrates (Seadogs)
5. Eiye
6. Red Devil
7. Scorpion
8. Black Axe
9. Mafia
10. Blood suckers
11. Vikings Fraternity
12. New Black movement

Some of them are exclusive for females

1. Daughters of Jezebel
2. Temple of Eden
3. Amazons
4. Black Beret
5. Black Bra
6. Barracudas

 

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F. Consequences of Cultism

1. Murder: The nefarious and nocturnal activities of secret cults have led to the untimely death of several cult members, innocent students and staffs of tertiary institutions. Here are some examples of both students and lecturers that have been killed. a) October 2003, Three students Kehinde Dosunmu, Omotayo Suraju and Olalekan Ajao were killed at Kwara state Polytechnic. b)  September 2005, Bolaji Tomiwa was killed at Lagos State University. c) March 2005, Ashifat Olatunji a student of Ibadan Polytechnic was murdered.

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2. Expulsion: Some cultists have their educational careers terminated abruptly through expulsion or rustication or they may be jailed or even spend extra years. E.g. March 27 2005, A 32year old Ikechukwu Okomah Anthony was arrested. He spent over 10 years pursuing Higher National Diploma in Estate Management at Ibadan Polytechnic.
3. Violence: Cultism promotes violence. The main aim of cultists is to cause trouble, unrest and to also disrupt the tranquility of a school environment. They derive joy in fighting and also use dangerous weapons like cutlasses, axes, knives and guns.
4. Spiritual Problems: During initiation, some new members are exposed to various satanic powers which may lead to spiritual complications. Some of these spiritual problems are insanity, mental disorder and hallucinations.

G. Preventive Measures against Cultism

Cultism is a social crime and their activities are often laden with blood. Therefore, in order to curb it, there should be:

1. A definite legislation that will pass a death sentence to anybody found guilty of cult activities on campuses.
2. Moral education should be made compulsory in the primary, secondary schools and should also be taught in General studies in tertiary institutions in the country.
3. Parents should take time to understand their children, give enough time to listen to them at home and satisfy their emotional, psychological and physical needs.
4. Parents should know and watch the friends of their wards. They should also take time to watch any strange behaviour put up by their wards and also correct them immediately.
5. Aggressive efforts to wage war against cultism in all tertiary institutions should be allowed by Government and religious groups in the country.

Test and Exercise

1. ……… is not an example of cult groups in Nigerian Campuses. a) Black Bra b) Black Axe c) Black Suckers d) Black Eye
2. Characteristics of cult groups include all except ……….. a) Violent crimes b) Illegal possession of firearms c)Sexual escapade d) Illegal possession of firelegs
3. Explosion is a consequence of Cultism.. True or False
4. One of the options is an instrument used by cultism a) spoon b) plate c) knife d) fork
5. Give one example of the consequences of cultism
6. Cultism started at (a) university of Lagos (b) university of Ilorin (c) University college, Ibadan (d) College of Education, Ikere
7. All are founders of pyrate confraternity except (a) Ralph Opara (b) Tunji Tubi (c) Wole Soyinka (d) Yakubu Gowan
8. All of these are characteristics of cultism except (a) they have rival groups within the institutions (b)they usually operate at night (c) they ensure peace in the institutions (d) they make use of signs and symbols to communicate
9. Types of secret cults in Nigeria are these except (a) mgba mgba (b) the scorpion (c) students union (d) the owl
10. The major aim of the pyrate confraternity is (a) to be more informed (b) elevate the social life of the university campus orderliness and discipline could be planted in the mind of the youths (c) to deceive the people (d) none of the above  

For more notes for various classes, visit: http://passnownow.com/classwork-support/

 

 

 

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