Abstract
The
issue of cultism has in spite of many efforts at reducing it, soared up in the
Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. Cultism has cast gloom over the educational
sector. It is repeatedly said that the youths are the future leaders but it is
a little wonder what the future holds for the youth of this country which has a
good proportion of her youth as secret cult member. It therefore became
imperative to carefully redress the issue of cultism in our tertiary
institution where reason should rule over emotion. Undoubtedly, the issue has
assumed horrifying proportion as cultic violence thrives even more. The main
purpose of this study was to find out the causes, effects and strategies to
stop cultism in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It was discovered from the study
that cultism among the students of tertiary institutions is real and urgent
solutions is needed by government and institution at large to curb it. The
parents must work closely with the institutions authority to arrive at a
lasting solution. This study was therefore carried out in the University of
Abuja, Nigeria.
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE(S)
Abstract — — — — — — — — —
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
- Background of study — — — — — — —
1.2 Statement of the Problem — — — — — —
1.3 Research questions/Hypothesis — — — — —
1.4 Purpose of study — — — — — — —
1.5 Significance of the Study — — — — — —
1.6 Scope of the Study — — — — — — —
1.7 Limitation of study — — — — — — —
1.8 Operational definition of terms — — — — —
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE
2.1 Introduction — — — — — — — —
2.2 Conceptual Framework — — — — — —
2.2.1 Concept of Cultism — — — — — — —
2.2.2 Historical Background of cultism — — — — —
2.2.3 Campus Cultism — — — — — — —
2.2.4 Social Problems Associated with Campus Cultism — — —
2.2.5 Control of Campus Cult Activities — — — — —
2.3 Theoretical Framework — — — — — —
2.3.1 The Behavioural Theory — — — — — —
2.3.2 The Social Learning Theory — — — — — —
2.4 Review of related Empirical Studies — — — — —
2.4.1 Studies related to causes of campus cultism. — — — —
2.4.2 Studies related to social problems of campus cultism — — —
2.4.3 Studies related to control of campus cultism — — — —
2.5 Summary of Reviewed Literature — — — — —
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction — — — — — — — —
3.2 Design of the study — — — — — — —
3.3 Area of study — — — — — — —
3.4 Population of the study — — — — — —
3.5 Sample and Sampling Techniques — — — — —
3.6 Instrument for Data Collection — — — — —
3.7 Validity of the Instrument — — — — — —
3.8 Reliability of the instrument — — — — — —
3.9 Method of Data Collection — — — — — —
3.10 Method of Data Analysis — — — — — —
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULT AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Data presentation and analysis — — — — —
4.2 Discussion — — — — — — — —
CHAPTER FIVE:SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary — — — — — — — —
5.2 Conclusion — — — — — — — —
5.3 Recommendation — — — — — — —
5.4 Limitation of study — — — — — — —
5.5 Implication of study — — — — — — —
5.6 Suggestion for further research — — — — —
References — — — — — — — — —
Appendix — — — — — — — — —
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of study
Cultism is undeniably one of the social vices setting the hand of the developmental clock of Nigeria backwards. The unabated atrocities of secret cults in the Nigerian educational institutions and even in the wider Nigerian society continue to take tolls on the lives of young and old Nigerians. Many young people, politicians, academics and industrialists have been hacked down in their prime by the cultists. It could be in the execution of a contract to assassinate and waste the life of their mentor’s real or imagined often political enemy. Acting as hirelings, the cultists get their target in his residence or office or track him down on the way. In most cases, the murderers ‘escape,’ not tracked down because they are serving the powers that be. They do not face the wrath of the law because the event is linked to a political godfather, a sacred cow. The dismayed Abuja Development Association (ESDA) feared in 2005 that the failure of the government security apparatus to arrest and prosecute any suspects in the numerous incidences of political murder in Abuja showed that the government had a hand in the crimes and made speaking out very risky. More often than not, however, it is in a clash between two cult groups, the one trying to demonstrate its stronger devilish powers over the other.
The emergence of cult activities in tertiary institutions in Africa can be traced back to the early 1950s. According to Opaluwah (2000), what is known as campus cultism in tertiary institutions started at The University College, Ibadan, Nigeria in 1952. It was formed by Nigeria’s only Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and six others who founded the Pyrates Confraternity. The other six are Olumuyiwa Awe, Ralph Opara, and TunjiTubi, AigImokhuede, Pius Olegbe and OluAgunloye. Their main objectives included the abolition of convention; the revival of the age of chivalry and to end tribalism, to elevate the social life of the university campus where orderliness and discipline could be planted in the mind of students/youths who were expected to be future leaders in Nigeria and elitism. Adejoro (1995) lamented that little did Soyinka and his friends realized that they were making history nor did they come to terms with the fact that students and indeed youths radicalism was being given a national boost and the unleashing of a national vanguard. The development was paradoxical to the extent that they little realized that they were laying the foundation for what was to be transformed eventually into gansterism.
For almost 20 years, the pirate a non-violent body become established in all tertiary institution that emerged in post independent Nigeria as the only confraternity on Nigeria campus. The emergence of campus cult as they are known in Nigeria today began with a split of early 1970s, in pirates confraternity. 1972 Bolaji Carew and several others were expelled from the pirates for failing to meet expected standards. In reaction to this and other events, the pirates registered themselves under the name National Association of Seadogs [NAS]. The Buccaneers of Seadogs was founded by Carew. In 1980s confraternities spread over the 300 institutions of higher education in the country. The Neo-Black movement of Africa [Black Axe] emerged from University of Benin in Edo state while the Supreme Eiye confraternity [National Association of Air Lords] broken off from Black Axe in 1983. Students at the University of Calabar in cross River State founded the Eternal Fraternal Order of the Legion Consortium [the KlansmensKonfraternity] while a former member of Buccaneers confraternity started the Supreme Vikings confraternity (the Adventures of the De Norsemen Club of Nigeria) the following year.
In the mid-80s, it had become evident that some of the cults had been adopted as elements in the intelligence and the security services serving the then military government. They were used against students union and University staff who were the only organized groups opposing military rule.
In 1984, Prof Wole Soyinka, extricated himself from emerging trend, initiated the abolition of the pirates confraternity in all tertiary institution, by then the phenomena of violent cults had developed a life of its own. In early 1990s as the end of the second Republic drew near, confraternity activities expanded dramatically in the Niger Delta as they engaged in a bloody struggle for supremacy. The family confraternity [The campus mafia or The mafia], which modeled itself after the Italian mafia, emerged, shortly after their arrival, several students were expelled from Abia State University for cheating and ‘’cultism ‘’ a reference to the voodoopracticing confraternities, which marked the beginning of a shift of confraternity activities from the university to off campus.
The Brotherhood of the Blood [also known as Two-Two [Black Beret] another notorious confraternity was founded at Enugu State University of Science and Technology. Cults established in early 1990s are; Second Son of Satan [SSS], Night Cadet, Sonmen, MgbaMgba Brothers, Temple of Eden, Trogan Horse, Jurists, White Bishops, Gentlemen Clubs, Fame, Executioners, Dreded Friends, Eagle club, Black Scorpion, Red Sea Horse,
Fraternity of Friends The klansmenk on fraternity expanded their influence by creating a Street and Creek Wing,, Deebam to expanded their influence by creating a street and Creek wing, Deebam to fight for and control territory outside the Universities through violence and crime. In response, the supreme Vikings Confraternity [SVC] establish their own street and creek group, Dewell. When was unable to match Deebam, the SVC created the second confraternity wing. The Icelanders [German], which was led by militia leader Ateke Tom. The outlaws, another well-known street and creek confraternity began to be formed. These includes the Black Brazier [Black Bra], the Viqueens, Daughters of Jezebel and the Damsel. Female confraternities have supplied spies for all allied male confraternities as well as acted as prostitution syndicates
