5/7/2021 0 Comments Confraternities In Nigeria
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, South West Zone and ICT, Mr. Folusho Adebanjo, had, during his tenure as Commissioner of Police in the state, paraded 15 youths, between ages 13 and 15, suspected of be cultists, with different arms and ammunition.It is one word that has been entrenched in the psyche of people in this part of the world, especially because of the hazardous experiences people have had, either directly or indirectly as the cult groups unleash irreparable loss, anguish and pain on youths, families and the society at large.Though, cult activities began from the nations first tertiary institution, precisely the then University College Ibadan (now University of Ibadan) in the 1950s with the formation of the Pyrates Confraternity, also known as the Magnificent Seven in 1952 by Wole Soyinka, alongside six others: Aig-Imoukhuede, Pius Oleghe, Ralph Opara, Nat Oyelola and Muyiwa Awe, wanted to separate themselves from stodgy establishment and its pretentious products in a new educational institution different from a culture of hypocritical and affluent middle class, different from alienated colonial aristocrats.Today, there is said to be over 50 cult groups in and outside the campuses.
As attempts are made to eradicate this hydra-headed scourge, there seems to be a geometric progression in membership and number of cult groups, as the trend seems to be a fad among youngsters in the country.Today, almost every street in the country, particularly in Lagos, now has one form of cult group or the other. ![]() One wonders what propels these youngsters to engage in such macabre activities that characterise these organisations. Membership of some of these nocturnal groups cut across gender and status. In the past, it was believed that membership of secret cult groups was the preserve of male children of the top echelon of society. However, this presumption has been rebutted, as status and sex are no longer major considerations for membership. Nevertheless, there are still groups that are gender restrictive. New entrants are lured into these groups as a result of peer influence, fear, deficient morals and most importantly, lack of self-esteem, and they are promised of dominion, power and protection even from the law. Recently, the video footage of a young boy identified as Shanawole, who was rescued from the streets by the Tony Rapu-led God Bless NigeriaFreedom Foundation, during one of its rehabilitation outreaches, trended on the social media. The 11-year-old, who is a member of the Eiye (Air lords) confraternity and heavy smoker of marijuana, revealed that if anyone dares him or his group, it was his job to kill or hack the person down, adding that if anyone tries to fight them, he and his boys would hit the person very hard. From Ijora Badia, a slum in Apapa-Iganmu to Oju Irin (Railway line) in Odi-Olowo; Ilaje in Bariga; Kadiri in Fadeyi, to Shipeolu in Shomolu, all in Lagos, residents live in fear as these cultistsgangs walk freely in the streets in broad daylight, brandishing dangerous weapons like knives, guns, machetes, axes and mortar pestles, as being used by the now dreaded Badoo cult, that is currently terrorising Ikorodu, a suburb in Lagos. The group has lately been unleashing terror on residents of Ibeshe, Odoguyan, Ogijo, Agric, Igbogbo, Oke-Ota, Itamaga, and more recently Owode-Ajegunle all in Ikorodu; raping, injuring and even killing some of their victims. The groups modus operandi has no regard for the old and the young as theyve been alleged to have raped even octogenarians and minors on several occasions, especially at night. Findings revealed that members of the Badoo boys do not cover their faces as they go about their notorious operations in the night, naked with black oil poured all over their bodies to make them very slippery for anyone to hold down. Before the sudden rise of the Badoo Cult, the Aye (Black Axe) and the Air Lords (Eiye) confraternities, seemed the dominant cults in Ikorodu, as both groups battle for supremacy in the town, and this has resulted in the loss of lives and property worth millions of naira. Confraternities In Nigeria Drivers As MembersThe Guardian gathered that cultism as a trend has continued to gain ground in the town as the various cult groups have embarked on a sustained recruitment of not only students of the higher institutions, but also land speculators (Omo-onile), commercial cyclists popularly called Okada riders, street urchins (area boys or touts) and even bus drivers as members. Anybody who shows interest is quickly initiated into the fold, as the various groups feel that the larger the membership, the stronger the group becomes. In Ijora Badia, the rivalry between the Ali-Iwo boys with their main rival, the Moshalashi boys, also known as Oju-Ina boys, is very visible as there is a bridge and canal that divides the two groups. Other splinter groups in the community include the Akamaye boys, Orita Ogbana boys, Kudeti boys, Campus boys, Baale boys, and Church Street boys; all holding strong in their various domains. The Guardian investigation revealed that the cause of the rivalry between the Ali-Iwo boys and Oju-Ina is what may be described as security money from motorists, whose vehicles break down within the borderline of their territories, and this has resulted in countless fights, leading to deaths and destruction of properties in the area. In Edo State, particularly in Benin-City, the rate at which teenage youths are initiated (blend) into cult groups is alarming, and this has become a major cause of concern to the state government and the law enforcement agents, especially the Nigerian Police, which oftentimes close in and try to stop them during initiations at the odd hours of the night. The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, South West Zone and ICT, Mr. Folusho Adebanjo, had, during his tenure as Commissioner of Police in the state, paraded 15 youths, between ages 13 and 15, suspected of be cultists, with different arms and ammunition.
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