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Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by Brytawon(m): 8:10am On Jul 26, 2015 |
The rate at which secondary school students are getting involved in cultism today is disturbing. How did these future leaders of tomorrow get entangled in this unholy unions? Paul Omo Obadan reports that if something is not done promptly to check the trend society stands the risk of being saddled with the burden of a substantial dysfunctional youth population. The rise of secret cults in secondary schools is a recent disturbing trend that has left school administrators, teachers, parents and pupil themselves confounded. In schools known to have cultists, many pupils live in overwhelming fear. This is because occasionally there are mysterious illness, accidents, disputes, threats and even deaths. Serious academic work can hardly ever take place in a climate of fright and insecurity. Besides, many students become suspicious of one another. The media has been awash in recent years with coverage of cult activities in higher institutions in Nigeria mostly especially when rivalries among the confraternities now known as cults descend in violence and deaths. But as such reports decline, the cult culture which has gone down the ladder to secondary school is getting more attention. In schools noted for cultism, teachers charged with discipline and strict classrooms teachers come under frequent threats. This leads to decline in the school tone and general academic performance. A good number of cultists have been accused of robbery, rape, harassment and intimidation of male teachers. Some have also been used by politicians to cause crisis in a bid to achieve their selfish gains. Thus, young secondary school children may acquire negative attitudes, which may manifest in all their lives. Police foil cult initiation of 46 Ebonyi secondary school students Only a fortnight ago, Ebonyi State Police command foiled the cult initiation of 46 graduating students of a popular mission secondary school in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State. The students, who just concluded writing their Senior School Certificate Examination, conducted by the National Examination Council, were said to be members of a cult group identified as Junior Vikings. They had gathered at a hotel in the metropolis located along old Enugu Road to be initiated into a senior group known as Senior Vikings when police swooped in on them following a tip-off. During the initiation, the police stormed the venue leading to the arrest of over 15 of the students while the initiators flee. The Police spokesperson in the state, Chris Anyanwu, said the initiators had dangerous items on them and added that the police have mounted a man-hunt to arrest the fleeing suspects. He explained that the initiators who are members of the Senior Vikings mandated the graduating students who were dressed in white hats, red shirts and black trousers to be initiated into the senior team or face difficulties in their lives. Mr. Anyanwu, who said he regrets that cult activities have increased in the state in the last few months, announced that the command will embark on sensitisation campaign to various schools in the state to enlighten the students on the need to shun cultism. He noted that if not checked, cultism can lead to violent crimes like armed robbery and kidnapping, describing it as a societal problem. The above lends credence to the fact that today, thousands of teenagers as well as primary school pupils have been exposed to cultism. Sunday Mirror gathered that this ugly trend has not only contributed to moral decadence, but has also increased the spate of thuggery and violence witnessed in the country. Who then can be blamed for this? Could it be the parents, the teachers, the school authorities or lack of moral values in the society? Everyone has a role to play in making the future better. If something is not done soon to check cultism in primary and secondary schools, then both the family and the greater society are at great risk of social insecurity. How It All Started Despite concerted efforts by government and concerned stakeholders to provide Nigerians with quality education, a few have chosen to toe the line that leads to destruction through voluntary initiation into different cults, which has eaten deep into the education system. What is known as secret cult in tertiary institutions started at the University College, Ibadan in 1953 when Prof. Wole Soyinka, Aig-Imoukhuede, Pius Oleghe, Ralph Opara, Nat Oyelola and Prof. Muyiwa Awe formed the Pyrates Confraternity also known as the National Association of Seadogs with the objectives of abolishing convention, reviving the age chivalry, and ending tribalism and elitism. However these objectives have been jettisoned as thousands of lives have been lost and properties worth millions of naira lost due to the sinister activities of cult groups in the nation’s tertiary institutions. As a result, the National Association of Seadogs ordered a cessation of all its activities on campuses of higher institutions effective 1984. Unfortunately, primary and secondary schools are veritable grounds for breeding cultists. According to Professor Ngozi Osarenren, of the department of Education Foundations, University of Lagos, the involvement of secondary school pupils in secret cultism “tells you the level of debasement in our society today”. According to her, the issue has reached an alarming proportion in Nigeria society today. The last two decades have witnessed secret cult violence in higher institution in Nigeria. And this has spilled over to the secondary schools leaving in its trail, bloodletting and waste of human lives. Her words: “As a people, we have lost it. We have failed to do the needful as parents. We have also failed to do the needful as government. If all parents have been able to look after their children, teach them the right values, we won’t have the incidence of cultism in our secondary schools. Secondly, when you talk about cultism in secondary schools, were did they get it from. You have to think back. Maybe some of their parents are actually cult members. So it is like passing on the baton. It’s a family tradition, because children are impressionable and because they are impressionable, it is what they see that influences them. Some parents have been bad role models. If my parents are doing it, then it is good, I have to do it. And if their parents are not doing it, their friends are doing it. Peer pressure. The period of peer pressure is a very critical period whereby there is increased reliance on friends than family. And they long to belong to that which their friends belong. And they would do everything possible to be members of that clique. The way out is for us to tell ourselves some home truths. There are so many parents who delude themselves that their children are bigger than them. Your child can never be bigger than you. It is when you don’t want to tell yourself the truth. The only way out is for parents to start doing what they ought to do. Care and attention for their children. In schools, the teachers, the Principals should start focusing on school itself, not school as in quote. Most teachers that are supposed to be foster parents, but they hardly play that role. We have to look at the school again;what kind of teachers do we have. Do we have committed teachers? Do we have motivated teachers? Do we have teachers who have job satisfaction? Do we have teachers who look forward to going to school to impact on the children? When you look at all these variables, the teacher factor is very critical in ensuring that the incidence is reduced in our secondary schools. A Child Psychologist, Professor Ibinabo Agiobu-Kemmer of Head of Department of Psychology, University of Lagos agrees with Prof, Ngozi Osarenren. According to her, parents have abdicated their roles as parents. “Parents are not checking or monitoring their children or don’t have time for their children as they should have. Some are delegating or abdicating their responsibilities to others. Those who still want to keep the values are probably getting fewer and fewer. Also, as adults in the house, if one adult wants to correct the child so that we can maintain the value and what is right for their sake, the other one is contradicting and saying leave them alone, this a new world order, that is old school. The children don’t want to get conflicting messages. “We have to restore the family alter. Restore prayer time, sitting together and defend family values, defend scriptural values. It is sad to say but some of the other religions sometimes protect their morals and values more than so called Christians do. How do we correct it, in other words, I am saying you start from the home. What is happening to our families? Somebody must keep the home. We wake up in the morning; they don’t even see each other because you have to be on the road by 4am. You come back again in the night at 11p pm, you are all tired and go straight to bed. There is no family life again. At the weekend, everybody is trying to go to the salon, party etc. what you could not do during the week to get ready again for the rat race. Nobody is paying attention to the babies, the children. Children need somebody to pay attention to them. Children need boundaries, and they need parents to give them the boundaries. Nobody is setting the boundaries. The Parents are not setting the boundaries. Maybe because nobody set it for them”. Worried by the rise in cultism in primary and secondary schools, former President Goodluck Jonathan had called on the National Assembly to enact tougher laws against cultists and those engaging in examination malpractice. He had said the eradication of cultism was a national project for all stakeholders in the country as campuses of higher institutions had been turned into breeding ground for cultists, an avenue for the practice of immoralities and a base for grooming terrorists. Speaking with Vanguard Learning at the 3rd national conference on Strategies for Eradicating Cultism in Nigerian Educational Institutions organised by the University of Ibadan in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission in Abuja, the former Minister of Education, Prof. RuqqayatRufa’i, said there had been recommendations in the past to curtail cultism but the greatest challenge was implementation. “If we must succeed in eradicating cultism in Nigerian institutions, all hands must be on deck. Parents, religious organisations and both members and non- members of the government are to work jointly on this measure.” Attributing the rise in cultism to the complicity of some desperate politicians, President, National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Com. Dauda Mohammed, said: “It is frightening to see the depth at which the menace of cultism has eating deep into our educational system, particularly with its incursion into the secondary school levels, and we expect government to take a decisive step in checkmating cult activities on our campuses and also taking practical steps in bringing the sponsors of these cult groups to book. “The presence of cult groups in our secondary schools is a spillover of the prevalence of cultism in our tertiary institutions. The first practical step that government must take is the promotion of Students Unionism as cultism took an increased dimension from the point when unionism became voluntary and union activities were facing repression on our campuses.” Suggesting how to effectively combat secret cultism, he said Nigerian universities must enjoy improved funding, especially recreational/academic facilities must be improved and virile students union activities must be allowed to thrive. Mohammed urged the National Assembly to also repeal the military decree of the recommendations of the General Abisoye panel, which made student unionism voluntary rather than compulsory for students in our higher institutions. Proprietor of Jemibewon International Academy and former Minister of Police Affairs, retired Gen. David Jemibewon in a recent media interview on the involvement of secondary school pupils in secret cultism said it is a tragedy. According to him, it is a shame and tragedy to have such at that level. According to him, “It boils to the fact that some parents and teachers are not showing enough concern and attention to children. Also some children are also not showing great enthusiasm in their studies. It is a reflection of the low level to which our society has fallen. There is hardly anything that works well in this country anymore. Otherwise, I cannot imagine a primary or secondary school boy being involved in cultism. It is a tragedy! Efforts should be made to ensure that it is corrected. The idea of child abuse should be clearly defined. Things that will help children become good citizens ought not to be seen as child abuse. source: www.nationalmirroronline.net/new/cultism-on-the-rise-in-secondary-schools/ |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by eyenibibio(m): 10:23am On Jul 26, 2015 |
I even see cultism rising in our primary schools 1 Like |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by Brytawon(m): 11:53am On Oct 10, 2015 |
cc: lalasticlala |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by Mynd44: 7:35am On May 26, 2017 |
Nigerians are funny. These guys are not cults, they are gangs. There have not been cults in Nugerian schools since the late 90s 2 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by lfleak: 7:37am On May 26, 2017 |
Mynd44:you are right, public secondary schools around me now have different gangs, 48 boys, SBM gang plenty... infact they all have their respective girlfriends while am still single... 6 Likes |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by Nobody: 7:38am On May 26, 2017 |
Like:::: if you didn't read this OP long write up Someone should summarise oo 7 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by cthia(f): 7:38am On May 26, 2017 |
so sad... |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by heenriiy19(m): 7:38am On May 26, 2017 |
Mynd44: See you sit down dere you haven't been to some public schools wherby students are wiv guns ND knives hmmmm 4 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by Dreamchasers31(m): 7:38am On May 26, 2017 |
Thank God I didn't read this |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by CROWNWEALTH019(m): 7:39am On May 26, 2017 |
wole Soyinka brought alora and the likes to naija Instead for him to go write books, how him win the Nobel price still they baffle me till date 1 Like |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by heenriiy19(m): 7:39am On May 26, 2017 |
Mynd44: Who dey lie give u 1 Like
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Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by AceRoyal: 7:39am On May 26, 2017 |
Just a reflection of a morally bankrupt society and a failed Nation! Thinking of how the future generations will be is very Scary! 1 Like |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by NevetsIbot(m): 7:40am On May 26, 2017 |
dem don dey gang since. Na now you just dey know? Back in ss3 then, ss2 students picked fights with some ss3 students. It turned to an all out fight btw both classes and I knew nothing was going on since I was home. Got to school the next day to discover two huge ss2 guys had brough a wood spiked with nails to maul me... Me wey no dey thug? I jus fear. 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by PeaceGord: 7:40am On May 26, 2017 |
I'm prosecuting a charge now against 10 secondary school students In Enugu. Two rival cults i. e. JVC and Twin Star confra! Too bad! |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by Victornezzar: 7:41am On May 26, 2017 |
eyenibibio:Thank God it's only u dats seeing it 1 Like |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by Antarch: 7:41am On May 26, 2017 |
Sad development. |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by Nobody: 7:41am On May 26, 2017 |
Mynd44: No talk this thing near my friend they raped him sister come kill her join for Edo state oo Secondary school not uni. 1 Like |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by Nobody: 7:41am On May 26, 2017 |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by 377: 7:43am On May 26, 2017 |
Peace corp will solve d problem 1 Like |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by Nobody: 7:46am On May 26, 2017 |
The. Source has been suspended Lalasticlala |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by Lalas247(f): 7:47am On May 26, 2017 |
Mynd44:Don't think they understand what a cult is I doubt it's in Sec schools |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by ednut1(m): 7:47am On May 26, 2017 |
blame parents too |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by Repairnigeria(m): 7:52am On May 26, 2017 |
NASA who should be blamed the parents government or dere teacher |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by ajalawole(m): 7:52am On May 26, 2017 |
i put the blame to the school |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by Mynd44: 7:52am On May 26, 2017 |
Jeffboi: heenriiy19: heenriiy19: Look up the difference between gangs and cults. The Nigerian context of the wprd "cult" is ignorant 1 Like |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by Nobody: 7:53am On May 26, 2017 |
. |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by ikorodureporta: 7:54am On May 26, 2017 |
Na dis morning u wnt me to read all this |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by Nobody: 7:54am On May 26, 2017 |
Mynd44: Cult,fraternity,gangs even unions and political parties are all synonymous in Nigeria. They have one thing common,using violent means as solutions. 2 Likes |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by ajalawole(m): 7:54am On May 26, 2017 |
Victornezzar:savage |
Re: Cultism On The Rise In Secondary Schools by ajalawole(m): 7:56am On May 26, 2017 |
ikorodureporta:if u can't read, go back to sleep 1 Like |
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