NAME-MUSTAPHA TAIWO
SCHOOL: FLY HIGH COLLEGE, MILE 12, LAGOS
CLASS: SS3
AGE: 16
Cultism is a secret organisation, where people come together to pledge their allegiances under an oath and have a social bond, commitment and dedication for the good of the organization.
Their activities are kept secret. They carry out their activities when people are not aware of, especially during odd hours and far away from residential areas.
Cultism is a social vice, which is eating up the educational and moral standard of students.
REASON YOUTHS JOIN CULT
1. Quest for power and revenge: Many youths become members of cult groups because of the thirst for power and authority.
2. Popularity and wealth: Some joined because they want to become known, feared and wealthy. The cult members are believed to have rich and influential sponsors.
3. Youths also become members of cultism because they want to meet rich and influential people.
EFFECT OF CULTISM
1. Disruption of academic calendar: An institution with high cultism rate will always be shut down because of the frequent clashes, unrest and bloodshed. The school and students will not have choices, but to flee for their lives and safety.
2. Fear and Insecurity: Students will always study in fear in schools where there is high rate of cultism. They will not have peace of mind.
STORY FROM MY COMMUNITY
A 15-year-old boy in my community was arrested for crimes ranging from robbery, rape and cultism. We later heard that he belonged to a cult group called ‘Aiye.’
He was lured into the group by his friends. He wanted to be feared and well known. He wanted to be respected. After he joined the cult group he became a worse boy, than he was before. He and his friends committed series of crimes, including raping underage girls.
He was eventually arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). People said he would face the law and get punished.
SOLUTION TO CULTISM
1.DISCIPLINE: Parents should enforce discipline at homes and into their children. They should adopt good parenting styles and endeavor to have time for their children. Parents should also pay unexpected visit to their children’s school. They should monitor their children.
2. PUBLIC CAMPAIGNS AGAINST CULTISM: Schools, religious bodies, homes, parents, students, government, nongovernmental organization and the society as a whole, should begin to wage war against cultism through seminars, workshops, campaigns and talk shows. The dangers associated with it should be preached to the students.
First Published 2017
