The killer disease that kills faster than COVID…

Dirty pristine waters shimmering under the sunlight. All of a sudden, those pristine waters got trampled upon. A once smooth going day became chaotic within minutes.

That day was the day I was to register in a government school as a government school student. Just outside the school gate, different voices shot to the sky. Some warning others about the approaching cultists about to rampage the school I was going others, just screaming in out of fright.

No sooner had we seen these malicious figures than we dashed into a nearby shop, those that could. I was shivering in my mother’s arms wondering what sort of school the school would be.

Unfortunately, whatever happened between the cultists from two different schools, led to a fight between them. That was not a sight a twelve year old would want to see.

Bloody eyed fellows obviously victims of hard drugs, armed with whatever sharp objects they could find, many with matchetes, others broken glass bottles all in the frenzy for a stupid battle, what a shame! Normally who would want to attend such a school?

Sometime ago, I heard about a young boy who is probably not up to fifteen in js3 class who profiled himself as “Small Killer.” I was shocked. What is becoming of our so called future leaders? If such a child could refer to himself as small killer, imagine what he or others like him would become in the nearest future.

One word keeps turning various institutions of nowadays to nuts “cultism” a raging fire that has consumed many innocents and guilty ones far more that we could ever imagine.

Cultism can’t only be found in many institutions of learning in Nigeria but also in our societies.

I was on my way to Ikorodu few years back while at mile twelve, I had an experience I would never forget, thankfully it wasn’t traumatic.
There was an unusual standstill traffic forming up at mile 12 bridge and all I could see were bumpers kissing bumpers. At least, the day was peaceful. Or was it? Well, it happened to be calm before a storm.
Everyone on foot that day suddenly spoke to their feets which all took off at an alarming rate, hearts increased their tempos with diverse melodious and cracked voices scarring the day all screaming in twos and fives then tens to twentys and so on. They all had one thing dancing off their lips “they are coming!’’ those of us caught up amongst the traffic sat limbless for some minutes wondering what is happening. Just like Jesus was sailing with his disciples in a boat and was surprisingly asleep, I was also asleep tho not totally oblivious of the happenings around me. Again just like Jesus when his Disciples found him sleeping inside the ship and woke him up all wondering how he would be able to sleep in such unrest, someone beside me shook me vigourously till I woke up. And unlike Jesus, after been told about the situation, reality dawned on me and I was the first to attempt running away especially after seeing shimmering and shining brand new matchets tied at the handle with a red cloth been held by hands I dare not fight and guns and daggers all tied up with red cloths and my first instinct was “run!” as I was about to open the door into an utmost chase of air, I froze after the driver gave me a serious warning not to open the door. I reluctantly complied. Felt numb from head to toe. Everyone in the bus blasted off with psalm 91. What a scary experience!

It’s a pity anyone would want to engage in cultism as malicious as it is. Yet, there are many reasons at which students and anyone in general engage in cultism but we shall address only two.

Peer pressure one of the factor and probably the greatest factor as to why many join cults. Lets be truthful with us, no one is an island of his own, and no one can decide to totally cut himself off from everyone.

Socialization is the basis of every human survival and this is the major reason we can’t cut ourselves away from our peers. Many find themselves among bad peers who would make them see the reason to join the dark and secret organization and eventually, they loose their stand and follow headlessly.

Another factor we will look at is the “wanting to get intimidating” syndrome. Some are driven with the desire to become intimidating, feared and respected in the society and at the long run, they land themselves in a pit of iniquity.

The alarming rate at which cultism has overpowered many schools and influenced many students in whichever sector has become an eyesore in which the government really need to work on tho, the government isn’t the only one to be involved in this change campaign.

Every problem has a solution. I’m not an expert in this line but here are the solutions I feel would work out for the drastic reduction of cultism in our society.

There should be adequate security in a country. This falls back to the government. There cannot be rampamt case of cultism if they know someone is keeping a watchful eye on them. Not when they know, their right to freedom is at stake.

The government should ensure that adequate punishment is given to law breakers who have taken it upon themselves to be the thorns in the flesh of the society. When these lawbreakers are aware that even the law isn’t smiling with their acts, few would want to loose their heads when others are.

Our parents are also included in this campaign to curb cultism in the society. A saying goes, “charity begins at home.” Parents are expected to teach their children the dangers cultism poses to the society and also to their lives. Every child tends to misbehave at an early stage. Parents are expected to impose discipline and good character on their children in order to save the societies and themselves from future stress.

Let’s join hands to curb cultism in our society and let’s help our future leaders become better leaders of tomorrow.

-John ogunnubi