Human Right Lawyer, Abdul Mahmud says Nigeria should adopt a conscious policy of openness that will allow for the registration of confraternities in institutional.

Mahmud said this in a series of tweets on his twitter handle in reaction to cult-gang related killings and violence across the country.

He said, “Don’t get the Great Oracle wrong. Cultism has always been with us, at least since confraternities changed from their initial lofty and progressive ideas to killing machines. That change happened sometimes in 1983.”

“When changes in our larger society began to take roots in the campuses: the military took over and our society became heavily militarized; vice chancellors became like military commanders.”

The politicization of students relations which the 2nd Republic politics brought didn’t help. Our confraternities became fraternities- secret cults, armed, deadly, playing NPN/UPN/NPP politics in campuses

Perhaps one clear indication of all of this was when authorities of UI banned all confraternities that were previously registered as clubs in 1984. It was a mistake. They went underground and became deadlier.

While all of this happened, vice chancellors like Chimere Ikoku (UNN) & Alele-Williams saw them as weapons against progressive students unionism. The military cashed on them. The dangerous spread began.

From Benin, Ekpoma, Abraka, Awka, PH, Nsukka and Owerri (Alvan Ikoku). Between 1988 and 1992, they were more pronounced in South-south/south eastern institutions, killing and maiming.

READ MORE: https://thebelltimesng.com/2019/11/04/nigeria-should-allow-for-the-registration-of-confraternities-in-institutional/

Registration of fraternities isn't illegal. Some fraternities have however been banned due to their criminal activities