Causes and consequence of cultism in Nigeria

Cultism is one of the most harmful and dangerous phenomena affecting the lives of Nigerian students. Continue reading to learn about the main causes of cultism and the consequences of cult activities in Nigeria.

What is cultism?
Definition of cultism: this concept implies any activity of secret cults when only participants know about methods and members of such organizations. Cultists declare their allegiance and follow all the orders that senior leaders give them.

The deeds of these groups caused the suffering and death of many innocent citizens. They became painfully popular and struck the country’s educational institutions like a dangerous virus, destroyed the life of youth through despicable acts like, torture, fraud, painful inscriptions on the bodies of new members, Voodoo rituals, murders, drinking of human blood and urine, use of hard drugs, intimidation of surrounding people, armed robberies, kidnapping, etc.

Origin of cultism in Nigeria

How did this all start? Initially, the goals of the cults were peaceful enough. For example, Wole Soyinka with 6 friends created a society called to protect the poor and needy people from discrimination. All the participants were decent students. However, over time, cultism began to acquire violent features that led to its subsequent degeneration.

Many cults appeared whose activities were of an increasingly dangerous nature. The most famous of them are the following groups:

Pyrates confraternity, 1952, University College, Ibadan.
Eiye confraternity, 1965, University of Ibadan.
Buccanneers confraternity, 1972, University of Benin.
Neo-black movement (black axe), 1983, University of Benin.
Eternal fraternal order of the legion consortium, 1983, University of Calabar.
Supreme Vikings confraternity, 1984, University of Calabar.

The more popular cultism became the crueler its methods. Violence was manifested from the first steps of newcomers in secret society. In order to pass the initiation, it was necessary to be tortured. Male students were beaten with sticks. It was a cruel test of endurance. Girls had to have an intimate contact with several men at once. Those who passed these tests had to drink alcohol mixed with blood. This oath was evidence of adherence to the cult. As a result, many people were maimed and died seeking illusory fanatical goals.

There was a real terror of cultism in Nigerian universities, as each cult sought to prove its suprimacy and significance. Not infrequent were the incidents of murders due to revenge, intimidation of the teachers and students.

What are causes of cultism in Nigeria?

What makes people join organizations that endanger their own lives and people around? Consider several significant factors:

For a strange reason, some students do not want to assert themselves by winning in the mathematics or sports competitions – they just show strength through violence. Youthful maximalism forces them to assert authority in rather dangerous ways. Participation in the cult gives a false sense of superiority.
Revenge is another important motive. If someone has mocked a student, he looks for companions to carry out a brutal massacre against the offender. Having established a friendship with cruel people, they hope to translate their revengeful desires into reality.

Also, an attractive factor is protection. If a student is intimidated by some organization, he can join a rival group. Although most of the students noticed that such organizations do not provide any protection, on the contrary, make them vulnerable and threatens their lives.
Popularity and recognition. Many want to create the image of a big boy or girl who has high status in student communities.
Often young people enter sects following their peers. Friends’ beliefs have a strong influence on students’ worldview. That’s why it’s important to choose the right friends that will not make a person turn off the right path.
Lonely people seek to establish fraternal relations because they lack spiritual affinity with like-minded individuals. No matter how unhealthy the atmosphere in the company is, it seems better than loneliness. The words about mutual love and protection sound pretty beautiful until this all turns into violence.
Students who have learned the patterns of destructive behavior in childhood strive to communicate with similar personalities. In such companies, their bad habits are not blamed but on the contrary, receive approval.

Consequences of cultism

Whatever eloquent are the slogans propagated by the cults’ leaders, in the majority of cases the result of their activities is negative:

Innocent people die during the violent clashes.
The philosophy of most cults refutes traditional human values and imposes negative patterns of thinking.
The crime rate noticeably increases as the cultists are ready to use any means to achieve their goals, even if they are contrary to the law. The activities of the cults are a huge danger for all members of society.
Youth becomes more violent. In their eyes, human life has no value. The culture of peaceful resolution of conflicts is lost. Instead brute force is used.

Society acquires a negative image. The country loses its favorable appearance and is likened to a medieval community.
The standard of education falls. The prestige of schools and universities declines. Because of this, many citizens remain uneducated.
Members of the cult do harm not only to others but also to themselves by abusing drugs and neglecting their own health. All this causes a devastating impact on health and significantly worsens the quality of life.
Is it possible to talk about proper studies at school if a student is a member of the cult? All attention is focused on harmful activity so it is almost impossible to get a good education. Cultists do not appear attend lectures regularly and perform woefully in exams. This fully explains the fact that many of them are forced to spend more time in the university.

Educational institutions have a weak tolerance for cults so rapid expulsion from school may be the consequence.
In addition, a student may receive a prison term because the cult activity is considered illegal in Nigeria.
Members of the cult lose their inner sense of peace. Their psyche is completely destroyed. They are constantly looking for conflicts and competing groups.
Voodoo rituals bring significant spiritual problems. Throughout all later life, a person can be attacked by dangerous spirits.
Cultists become the shame for their family members and cause deep grief in their hearts. The society considers parents as bad people.