Nigeria educational institutions are beset by many kinds of cancerous problems like cultism. Perhaps, this is one of the prices Nigeria has to pay for it efforts at developing its human and material resources. It is against this background that this paper x-rayed possible causes, and consequences of cultism in educational institutions of learning in Nigeria. Also, some suggestions/solutions and counseling implications to cultism are made.
Cultism
That education is a crucial factor in the social, economic, political and technological development of a nation is not in doubt. And Thompson (2000) strongly believes that “the greatest asset to any society is her citizens and their various abilities”. These abilities can be acquired through quality education. Imogie (2002) noted that no nation can rise above all the quality of its educated citizenry. Unfortunately, despite all concerted efforts by the federal government to provide its citizens with quality education, the reverse is the case. Nigerian educational institutions are beset by many cancerous problems. Undoubtedly, one of such social vices confronting Nigerian institutions today is cultism.
There is hardly no academic session without reported cases of cultism in most Nigerian institutions. In fact, there is hardly no single Nigerian institutions of higher learning that has not experienced this menace of cultism. Over a decade and half hundred of souls have been to an early grave through the nefarious and nocturnal activities of these cultists. From the university of Ibadan through University of Maiduguri, down to Port Harcourt where cultists were currently holding sway, the length and breath of the nation seem to be under the siege of cultism.
The presenter at this point would want to explain what secret cults are. According to Tijani (2005), secret cults are those organizations whose activities are known to members only. They are signs and symbols that may not make any meaning to outsiders. They engage in nocturnal activities like initiation ceremonies, and meetings that involve blood oath taking.
Chambers 21st century Dictionary (1999) defined secret cult as something which is popular and regarded as particularly significant by a certain group of people: a fashion, craze or fad. Oxford advanced Learners dictionary defines cultism as a system of religious worship especially one that is expressed in rituals.
In summary, cultism can be defined as a ritual practice by a group of people whose membership, admission, policy and initiation formalities as well as their mode of operations are done in secret and kept secret with their activities having negative effects on both members and non-members alike. Inside its practices are music and dance.
The existence of cultism in Nigeria dates back to pre-colonization when a group of individuals with the main objective of seeking protection from their ancestors conducted rituals. Initiations were normally carried out for those who wanted to belong to the secret cult. And once initiated, the secrets were religiously and sacredly observed by members.
However, Nigerian educational institutions were not associated with secret cults until 1952 when the first secret cult - the Seadogs confraternity (a.k.a Pyrates) was formed at the University of Ibadan by a group of seven students namely Prof. Wole Soyinka, Pius Olegbe, Olumuyiwa Awe, Aig-Imonkhuede, Ralf Opara and Nat Oyelola. It must be stated that the formation then was in good faith as their activities and operations included fighting colonialism/oppression. They also rendered social services as blood donations to hospitals and presentation of gift to orphanage homes etc.
After about two decades, rancour, fend, factions set in. thus in reaction to the excesses of the Pyrates the Bucanneers Association of Nigeria was founded by Nolaji Carew in 1970 at the University of Benin; the Mafia confraternity (The family) was founded at the University of Ife in 1979, the National Association of Air Lords (Eiye Fraternity) was founded by Adegoke Adeniji at the University of Ibadan in 1965. much later, the Vikings fraternity was founded at the university of port-Harcourt in 1982; while the nmeo Black Movement (Black Axe confraternity) was inaugurated at the University of Benin in 1984 and the War Lords (Brotherhood of Don) was at Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, and the Jurists at Delta State University, Abraka in the early 1980's. By the early 1990's there was cult explosion such as the Maphites; K.K.K; the Mgba Brothers, The red Devils, Red Berrets, Black Berrets, Green Berrets, the Scorpions, the Black Cat, the Trojan Horse etc while among the female folks are the Daughters of Jezebel, Supreme Daughters of Medusa, White Angels, Dirty Virgins, the Amazons, Dirty Bra, River Angels, the Sharons, Daughters of Eve and Black Queen, etc.
Reasons Why Students Join Cults
Despite the fact that cults has become an abode of evil, where all manners of evil such as maiming, murder/killing, examination malpractice, robbery, rape, arson, intimidation of fellow students and lecturers for good grades, love (girlfriends) and clashes of rival cults groups, some students still find it fashionable to “blend” or join cults groups for different reasons. According to Ezeali (2000) the following are the reasons why students join cults:
