According to the Free dictionary definition of cultism, a cult is a religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
Cultism always carries experiences or rituals. Cultists share common ideology and beliefs. They are known as a secret society with obvious leaders or a leader. Their intentions are mostly unknown to the people who are outside their circle.
In Nigeria, there are different types of cult groups which include; The Pyrates Confraternity, Buccaneers Confraternity, Black Axe, De Norsemen Kclub and Air Lords to mention but a few.
In Rivers State, the prominent cult groups include the Icelanders, Greenlanders, klinsmen, and the Deygbam and Deywell. These cult groups have become a societal menace over the years and are responsible for the mounting insecurity situation in the state like Kidnapping, armed robberies, assassinations and proliferation of drugs and arms and equally form a pool from whence politicians pull thugs and louts from.
The metamorphosis of cultism in Rivers State may be linked to the resistance mounted against the federal government and oil companies in the state. However, it has taken a new turn and has become a tool in the wrong hands for intimidation and murder.
In short, it is so common in the state that even secondary school students, barrow pushers, menial job workers, park boys et cetera openly fraternize without fear. Unlike most states where cultism is associated with university campuses, Rivers State cultism is a community thing, a street thing and a household thing.
Cultism has also crept into security agencies and government circles in Rivers State. There are weekly cult-related killings in Rivers State with the latest at Omerelu in Ikwerre local government and Ebubu Eleme.
For residents and indigenes of Rivers State, the burning question on everyone’s lips is why the state seems to be a fertile ground for Cultism and it’s related activities.
TPCN Correspondent John Diidi in an attempt to get answers on this burning issue, was on the street of Port Harcourt to get the views of residents on this issue.
Mr Amadi Goodluck blamed poor parenting as one of the reasons why Cultism keeps growing in the state.
“Most parents are to be blamed for this menace. How can a child go out to play from 7am-7pm without the parents knowing or asking where the child went to.
“Maybe because they’re busy going about looking for their daily bread due to the harsh economic realities in mega cities like Port Harcourt, they tend to forget about their primary duties to their children by instilling the necessary moral rights and ethics a child needs.
“When a child starts having this kind of freedom and lack of parental care, they get exposed to wrong friends and ideologies and are then easily lured into the different cult groups.
Mr James, a civil servant in the Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism noted that abundance in wealth and the concentration of such in the hands of a very few members of the society breeds and sustains cultism. To him, most cult-related killings in the state arise due to the struggle for access and control of the channels.
“The society has deprived these boys for so long. They equally see the wealth that is taken from their communities while they live in the abundance of nothing. Having watched for so long, they form gangs of people who want the same thing. However, a difference in opinion leads to division and killings among themselves”.
” But it is the poor people against the elites. The division arise due to lack of concentration on the main purpose and then greed creeps in and they turn the guns against themselves to maintain territorial dominance”
Mr Abiye, also a civil servant opined that politics fuels cultism in the state while oil money fuels the ‘politics of patronage’ played in the state.
He maintained that politicians arm, use and dump the cultists during elections. Having arms in one’s hands make one resort to crime for survival.
” The government should look within and see how they fuel these things by fueling poverty and concentrating the state’s wealth in the hands of a minority elite group and their associates.
A Port Harcourt Based cleric Rev Goodluck also gave his opinion from a spiritual angle.
“If you read Mathew Chapter 24, you’d see that in the last days, there will be an increase in tribulations and trials. Hence a high rise of cultism in Rivers State is not strange to me, being a reflection of this Bible Passage.
“Peer pressure is another factor. A lot of our youths now have low self-esteem, and so join secret cults to boost their Ego. Some also join cults as a way of ending molestation, a case of ‘if you can’t beat them, you join them’.
Mr Barry blamed the Political class and the presence of crude oil as a contributory factor.
“States with abundance in mineral resources just like Rivers State tend to have less economic growth and developmental outcomes. This leads to a high level of unemployment and hence serves as a fertile ground for negativity and social vices.
“Also our politicians tend to reward youths who choose the path of violence and cultism, by offering them amnesty, skill acquisition programs and political appointments while ignoring the non-violent youths. These non-violent youths having seen this trend, now choose to join cults groups to get recognition and compensation from Government.
From the above opinions, it’s now clear that all facets of the society are responsible for giving cultism the ‘nutrients’ to grow in Rivers State, hence the Government of the state needs to provide better welfare for the people, which will lead to a better life and make young people aspire to be better citizens and stop patronizing cultists in the business of Governance.
The government also needs to openly engage with parents, teachers, school administrators, religious and traditional organizations to sensitize the children and youths on the dangers of cultism to the society.
The government, both local, state and federal should withdraw from the politics of settling violent members of the society. This gives the impression that violence pays.
