The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cults

  • Music, cults, and drugs

    Music, cults, and drugs

    • By Fredrick Nwabufo

    Sir: In the 80s, ‘resistance to oppression’ governed the zeitgeist. Reggae music was hugely popular. It resonated with the yearnings of the people for freedom from autocracy, domination, and oppression. Reggae was the conduit for social expression; it was the euphonious channel for agitation and for resisting the ‘sistem’.

    The Mandators evoked the spirit of the times with the ‘Crisis’ album. The album had hits such as Rat Race and Inflation. Majek Fashek spoke for a generation with the album – Prisoner of Conscience. And Orits Williki with the album – Tribulation. There were many others in that league.

    There was purpose to music. There was logic – not only symphony. There was a method. And there was message – not only melody.

    At the time when the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) exercised near monopoly over terrestrial broadcasting, young people had very limited options for degenerative entertainment. Nudity, drugs, and violence which are today ubiquitous digital divertissements, were uncommon in music videos. There was diligent censorship. And lyrics of songs were sanitised.

    There was progressive cultural conditioning and value adaptation. Funmi Adams’ ‘Nigeria my beloved country’ was every youngster’s anthem. And she reminded the young of the primacy of education in ‘Bata mi a dun koko ka’.

    Today, the values and innocence of old have volatilised. All gone. Nudity, drugs, and violence are the very enhancing contents for music videos. The lyrics of songs are heavily sexualised – with themes around drugs, and violence. Pornography is buffet – available on social platforms – and intruding when unsolicited.

    Songs and skits promoting drugs, s3x, cultism, and violence populate the digital biome. Youngsters are in a tournament of the grotesque over who has the most depraved s3x tape.

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    A lack of values, insolence, indiscipline, recklessness, and debauchery is the new conditioning. It is the zeitgeist. It will get worse.

    What is the way forward?

    The youth will need new creative distractions. It is a tall order. S3x and the ridiculous sell. Nuisance value has become rewarding. Notoriety is now fame, and the despicable now celebrated. Supplanting the current order will take an evolutionary displacement. The times will eventually change – either for good or for bad – as it is with every social progression.

    But what needs to be done in the immediate is for agencies saddled with the responsibility of sanitising public contents and of promoting national values to be alive to their responsibility. Entertainers promoting drugs, cultism and violence should be made to face the law. There should be stern reprimand for the promotion of tendencies capable of inducing crime and violence. These entertainers should not be ambassadors to national causes or set as examples to the youth. That is rewarding bad behaviour.

    As a society, there should be premium for discipline, hard work, real value, and integrity. We must de-emphasise the culture of profligacy, decadent opulence, and vanity which fuels the trafficking in libertinism.

    The need for value re-orientation and new socialisation is a task that must be actuated by citizens, groups, government, traditional institutions, the media, and all concerned members of society.

    •Fredrick Nwabufo,

    <fredricknwabufo@yahoo.com>

  • Ikpeazu to police: curb street cults

    Ikpeazu to police: curb street cults

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has urged the police and other security agencies to check street cults.

    Speaking at Government House, Umuahia when he received the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police in-charge of Research and Planning, Force Headquarters, Abuja, DIG Valentine Ntomchukwu, Ikpeazu said there is need to check the menace of street cults it before it gets out of hand.

    Ikpeazu said many youths are taking to the latest crime set-up, stressing that everything must be done to save the future of the country which is in the hands of youths.

    He said, “This is the time to nip street cultism in the bud before it gets out of hand, the police should look into it and not treat it with kid’s gloves, as the future of the country depends on their current upbringing”.

    The governor lamented that the new crime, which is ravaging some states in the country, introduces young adults to hard drugs which make them commit all sorts of crimes without knowing what they are doing.

    Ikpeazu expressed satisfaction with the effort of the police in fighting crime in the state and restated his commitment to complementing the police efforts.

    He said, “I know that if we sustain our efforts and put all hands on deck, we will be able to record a near zero crime situation in the days ahead, because without adequate security you can hardly talk about development.”

    The governor also assured of his administration’s commitment to completing the permanent site of the zone 9 headquarters soon, saying, “Work will begin on that project before the end of this month and I can assure you that once we start work we will not stop until we complete that job.”

    Ikpeazu presented five patrol vehicles and motorcycles to the state police command.

    In his speech, DIG Ntomchukwu said he is in the state as part of his familiarisation and operational review tour of the Southeast which is aimed at acquainting him with what the police is doing in the area of crime control and management in order to review the strategy towards greater success.

    Ntomchukwu said that Abia was important in the policing organogram being the commercial hub of the country and commended the Governor for his continuous support to the Abia police command and urged him to assist the police in the state build an eminent citizens’ forum.

    In his reaction the state commissioner of Police, CP Leye Oyebade disclosed that the Abia police command has enjoyed tremendous support from the Governor and vowed to ensure that crime was reduced to the barest minimum in the state.

    At the police headquarters, Ntomchukwu charged the officers and men of the command to always uphold the rights of those they are arresting or in their custody at all times, adding that they should not arrest outside the stipulated laws of the land.

    Ntomchukwu said, “When arresting a suspect you are expected to inform him or her of the reason for the arrest and the right of the suspect must be respected at all times irrespective of the offense allegedly committed”.

    The CP, Oyebade said that they have enjoyed a cordial working relationship with the officers and men in the command including the state government and the press.

  • 30 renounce cults as police, churches fight vice

    30 renounce cults as police, churches fight vice

    The horror of cult groups being in secondary schools, not just tertiary institutions, inspired the collaboration of the Abia State police command and various religious organisations to  tackle vice in schools. The police and the churches came under one umbrella to fight a common threat. The venue was Abia State Polytechnic, Aba which keyed into the plan.

    The commercial city is facing various security challenges such as cult activities, robbery and kidnapping, among others.

    This collaboration has yielded fruit. Over 30 students, spread across the genders, and of various secondary and tertiary institutions, denounced their membership of cult groups.

    Many speakers helped soften the hearts of those who renounced. The  state Commissioner of Police  Adeleye Oyebade, who is also a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), was one of such powerful speakers. So was  the Aba Area Commander, ACP Peter Wagbara, who disclosed that he once belonged to a cult group. This revelation amazed his audience.

    Clergymen and even ex-cultists from Abia State Polytechnic equally played an inspiring role at the event.

    In an interview with journalists at the end of the event, the state police commissioner said the crusade was in line with the community policing policy of the Inspector General of Police Mr. Idris Ibrahim.

    He added that churches and campus fellowships in different secondary schools and higher institutions in the state were among the stakeholders the police are partnering with to ensure a crime-free state.

    The police boss who said that over 80 per cent of criminals arrested in the command were committed by youths who are involved in kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes and further investigation has it that the youths were involved in the crime as a result of influence of peers and engaging in cult-related activities.

    He said, “In line with our responsibility to fight crime in Abia State, we have resolved to reach out to students in the secondary schools and higher institutions to sensitise, counsel and educate them on the dangers of cultism, drug abuse and other criminal activities.

    “When you look at the age bracket of the youths going into crime this time around, you will find out that those of them in Schools are more in number. So our message is that they should abstain from crime and take their studies seriously to enable them prepare to be the leaders of tomorrow.

    “We are partnering with Churches to achieve this aim, so that when the Student repent the Churches can follow them up to ensure that they will not go back to cultism and crime again”.

    Earlier, the area Commander Aba area Command of the State Police Command ACP Peter Wabara stated that the Police have segmented Aba into seven groups, adding that the anti-cult crusade will be taken to each of the groups in Aba and its environs.

    Wagbara said the event would help to cut the rate of crime under his command. He also used the opportunity to call for the support of all stakeholders to tackle what he described as cankerworm that has continued to pose a threat to the peace of Aba residents and visitors alike.

    He promised that Aba would continue to enjoy the good working synergy between the police and other sister agencies to ensure that crime was reduced to its lowest ebb in Aba and the state in general.

    Some Aba residents said they couldn’t believe that the police could agree to such moves, adding that they were astonished to have seen the result of such collaboration as many students especially, from the secondary school sessions courageously denounced their membership to various secret cult groups, an event that they suggested should be annual.

    In a remark, the Rev John Eze of the Christian Pentecostal Mission Aba, lauded the state police command for organizing the anti-cult crusade in the city.

    He said, “I consider today as one of the days I have been waiting for as a minister of God, for the Police to initiate this programme is an answered prayer, I think God has decided to bring the “name God’s own State Abia” into a reality.

  • 16 feared dead in Kwara cults clashes

    16 feared dead in Kwara cults clashes

    No fewer than 16 people were feared dead at the weekend in   clashes of suspected cult members in  Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    Though, the causes of the clashes could not be ascertained last night, it was gathered that suspected members of Aiye and Eiye confraternities clashed at an higher institution.

    The Police said  they arrested more than 30 suspects.

    Police spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who confirmed the arrests, added that 14 had been found culpable after screening.

    Okasanmi said the 14 suspects would be charged to court this week.

    It was gathered that one of the victims was gunned down during screening of aspirants for a Students’ Union Government’s election at the weekend.  Another victim was reportedly killed at Asa Dam Road area of the town by suspected members of the Eiye confraternity.

    An eyewitness account said the death triggered reprisals and a renewed clash among members of the Eiye and Aiye confraternities, adding that it later spread to other parts of the metropolis, including: Agbooba, Baboko, Sabonline, Irewolede and Niger Road.

    A resident of Niger Road said: “It all started around 4pm at the weekend. A victim who lived at Agbooba was killed beside a bridge close to the filling station at Oja Tuntun area of Ilorin.

    “Another body was found at a popular hotel, on Sunday. One suspected cult member  was murdered at Irewolede yesterday. The deceased was chased to the area and was matcheted by his assailants,” the source said.

    A students’ leader, who pleaded for anonymity, confirmed last night that there was a violent attack last Thursday, which left an unidentified student seriously injured.

    But he denied knowledge of any reprisal attacks on the campus.

    The student said: “I can confirm to you that there was an attack on campus last Thursday carried out by unidentified persons. We are still trying to know their identity.

    “The attackers are on the run; the police and Department of State Services operatives are aware of the incident. The victim of the attack is not yet confirmed dead but he is seriously injured. He was rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) in Oke-Oyi, Ilorin.

    “I cannot confirm if the Thursday incident led to any reprisal but there was no killing on our campus, Kwara Polytechnic. Although we heard about clashes in several areas, which are far away from the school, I can confirm none of our students was involved.”

    Another student, who simply gave his name as Lateef, also confirmed the attack, saying it happened at Motion Ground.

    He, however, could not give the name of the victim, but he said the attack may have led to several reprisals, which allegedly left more than 10 students died.

  • Shun cults, freshers advised

    The Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has held an orientation for freshers. No fewer than 3,000 students gathered at the Ceremonial Hall for the event, which was organised by the Students’ Affairs Division and Guidance and Counselling Unit.

    The coordinators, Mrs Modester Ofodile and Mrs Dorcas Adegbite, advised the students to be worthy ambassadors of the school. The university, they said, would only issue its certificates to students found worthy in learning and character.

    The various directorates sensitised the students on how they could get the best, using the university’s services. The Librarian, Dr Mulikat Salaam, taught the students how to use the library.

    As an undergraduate, Dr Salaam said she could not afford to buy textbooks but used the library and became one of the best graduating students in her set. She urged the students to make the library their second hostel.

    The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Yemi Akegbejo-Samsons, urged the students to shun examination malpractice, hooliganism and prostitution. The Dean said cultismi is ungodly and serious students must not be part of it. He said FUNAAB is peaceful because of the school’s stand against cultism and hooliganism.

    Director of Centre of Entrepreneurial Studies Prof Olufemi Onifade urged the students to acquire entrepreneurial skills and learn vocations that could make them self-reliant after graduation.

    Mrs Ofodile, of the Guidance and Counselling Unit said the management would not tolerate indecent dresses, urging the freshers to wear good clothes and hair styles to avoid embarrassment.

    The students were advised to approach their faculties’ offices and departments for more information on school regulation.

     

  • Two die in Ogun cults clash

    Two die in Ogun cults clash

    Two persons suspected to be secret cults’ members have been killed and others injured in  a pre-dawn attack and counter-attack between rival groups in Ijebu-Igbo, the headquarters of Ijebu North Local Government Council Area, Ogun State.

    A gun battle between two warring cult groups –  Eye Confraternity (the Air Lords) and the Aiye Confraternity (the Black Axe) was said to have begun around 3:56a.m at the Aleke Oke-Sopin area of the town.

    Residents were thrown into panic as they were woke up by the sounds of sporadic gunshots.

     

    The dead were identified as 28 year-old Abiodun Adeniye and Taiwo Yusuf (24).

    Their remains have been deposited at a morgue in  the town, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

    The  Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who  confirmed the incident, told reporters that cutlasses, pairs of scissors,  guns, expended bullets, live cartridges, cults’ paraphernalia and charms were recovered from the groups.

    Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), added that the clash informed why the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, directed all anti-crime teams in the state  to relocate momentarily to Ijebu for adequate protection of lives and property, particularly during the Ojude Oba festival.

    Adejobi said the police would not relent in its efforts in tackling activities of cultists  in any part of the state “via robust intelligence and sophisticated policing.”

    He appealed to  Ogun residents to collaborate with the police and other security agencies to succeed in the war against cultism and security of lives and property.