| Resurgence of cultism
on campuses
By Sun News
Thursday, July 1, 2004
Recent reports indicate that many university campuses across
the country are under the renewed assault of cult activities.
Only last week, for instance, about three students of the
University of Ibadan were reportedly killed following a clash
between two cult groups. Incidents such as this take place
almost on daily basis on many campuses. In fact, they have
become so commonplace that we merely shrug our shoulders each
time we are confronted with such stories. They no longer shock
us.
We are worried that we have got to the stage in this country
where the willful loss of life and property which cult activities
on campus occasion is regarded as a fact of our existence.
How did things degenerate to this extent? What went wrong?
We recall that following the massive cult clash that claimed
the lives of many students of the Obafemi Awolowo University
in 1999, authorities of individual universities made spirited
attempts at curbing the menace of cultism on campuses. Then,
many of our campuses witnessed open air confessions by supposedly
repentant cult members. From one campus to another, reports
had it that cult members were confessing. They did not just
confess, they also promised to give up such anti-social engagements.
For many, what was happening on campuses then looked too choreographed
to be real. But what was undeniable was that there was a conscious
effort on the part of the authorities to stamp out cultism
even if they had to apply unorthodox means to do so.
Some five years on, it appears as if the fire is out. Authorities
of universities have either burnt themselves out in this regard
or have relapsed into complacency. The result is that cults
are having a free reign on campuses.
We recognise the fact that cultism is almost as old as university
education in Nigeria. But the fact remains that their nefarious
activities have always been under check.
Sadly, we can hardly say the same thing of what obtains in
our universities now. The reckless abandon, the temerity,
the bravado, and the gusto with which these cult groups operate
show that they have become laws unto themselves. They are
no longer afraid of the consequences of their actions.
But even more unfortunate is that their actions are without
consequences. The authorities of the various institutions
of lighter learning are merely looking helpless these days.
They appear to have been overwhelmed by the menace.
They way it is now, it would appear as if cultism has become
a norm in the university system. This state of affairs is
regrettable.
But we do not think that the problem has defied solution.
What is the case instead is that both the campuses and the
larger society are aiding and abetting cultism. These days,
politicians looking for thugs easily rush to campuses to recruit
some. The result is that those who ought to take steps that
will nip the dastardly activities of cult groups in the bud
turn a blind eye to them, thus allowing the miscreants a free
reign.
We urge the authorities of our institutions of higher learning
not to shirk their responsibility in this matter. They should
evolve creative and sustainable ways of dealing with the menace
of cultisim. It is one big challenge which they must take
up. If decisive steps are not taken to check this renewed
upsurge in cultism, we all stand the danger of turning our
campuses and even our cities into killing fields.
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