Benin: Rising cultism menace amidst Nigeria’s insecurities

Amidst the prevailing wave of insecurities in Nigeria, a growing menace often overlooked is the alarming rise of cultism, particularly among the country’s youth.

The roots of cultism in Nigeria can be traced back to the Seadog confraternity, also known as the Pyrates, founded by Wole Soyinka and six others in 1952 at the University of Ibadan.

Initially established as fraternities confined to university campuses, these groups aimed to maintain law and order within the academic community.

However, over time, what began as peaceful fraternities evolved into secret cults marked by bizarre and violent activities.

Despite the historical context, the current state of cultism in Nigeria poses a severe threat to the nation’s youth, and one of the areas profoundly affected is Benin City.

Concerns have been raised about the escalating cult-related violence in Benin City, prompting calls for urgent government intervention.

A social media post by @LawrenceOkoroPG on X, shed light on the severity of the situation, stating:

“Cultism: Youths are dying every day in Benin due to consistent Cult killings.

We ain’t talking about it enough, and govt has to do something to put an end to it.”

This plea highlights the need for decisive action by the government and security agencies to address the broader issues of insecurity in the country.

Cult activities, left unattended, contribute to the overall challenges faced by the nation, as these groups often intersect with criminal elements, including kidnappers and assassinations.

As Nigeria grapples with multifaceted security concerns, it is essential to recognize and confront the specific threat posed by the resurgence of cultism.

The call for government intervention is not only to safeguard the vulnerable youth but also to mitigate the broader implications these activities may have on the nation’s stability and security.

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