From the look of things, it would appear that we have been living in our country with another global pandemic called cultism, which have been ravaging the Socioeconomic as well as other fabrics of the society and sadly, its destructive tendencies and negative effects on the life and times of our youths as well as their future.
It has spread its tentacles from the tertiary school point to the Secondary School, Primary School and is dwelling in our communities with Artisans’ involvements. It is also amongst our political class, a dangerous trend.
Today, belonging to cult and other violent group is becoming a norm amongst our youths and has given birth to so many dangerous and violent cult groups through which many of our children/youths have had their existence cut short, leaving many families in perpetual sorrow and pains as well as agony. Many of our children /youths have been radicalized and made to believe that Cultism, Substance/Drug Abuse, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Thuggery/Violence and other vices are ways of life and existence.
Apart from all these mentioned vices, there is also a worrisome one called cyber crime/internet fraud as well as Child Trafficking and ritual killings all in the name of making money and presenting oneself as influential in the society. The negative effect of this remains that there is now erosion of moral/value system.
The recent reported case of the arrest of 15 persons believed to be Nigerian Youths and Members of Supreme Eiye Confraternity by the Italian Police as well as that of 38 year old Nigerian, Ramon Abbas alias Hushpuppi in Dubai over his alleged involvement in cyber fraud, banking, fraud, scamming, identity theft amongst others as well as the reported arrest of another Nigerian Youth by FBI identified as Obinwanne Okeke also known as INVICTUS over an alleged computer fraud and other related issues are all source of worries and concerns because of its adverse effects on the country’s image and the perpetrators and their families and relations.
The arrest of 15 persons believed to be Nigerian by Italian Police as members of of Supreme Eiye Confraternity also Known as Eiye Cult with its root in Nigeria and having series of international contacts in countries like France, Germany, Belgium, Sweden and other European Countries and across the globe has presented Cultism as ‘A GLOBAL PANDEMIC’ requiring urgent action by all and sundry.
It was also gathered that their work revolves around recruitment of persons for cultism, trafficking in persons of young women probably for sexual exploitation, money laundry amongst others. It is obvious that our Children/Youths are giving to the idea of get rich quick syndrome through any means irrespective of its illegitimacy thus embracing the Machiavellian principle of the end justifying the means provided they are recognized by the society as well as some Religious organizations with a title to match.
The integrity, value, moral and working hard for excellence is in a sorry state and it would appear that the centre can no longer hold. Today, the era of strong African tradition which stipulates that Every Child is Everybody’s Child is no longer practicable as any person’s Child remains his child and he is expected to do the correction alone. We also live in a society where parents no longer ask the source of wealth of their children, hard work replaced with laziness and where children and youths are made to believe about money making through online and with less attention to learning of trades and crafts that will engage them for life.We have today such vices like sex for employment,admission and grades and marks in existence in our society.
There is an urgent need for urgent action by all and sundry to bring back our children and youths by restoring our moral and value system thus cutting the supply chain of their involvement in cultism and other vices.
The efforts of the Inspector General of Police IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu and the Nigeria Police Force in coming up with the programme called Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) aimed at saving Nigerian Children/Youths from the Claws of Cultism and other Vices and by cutting the supply chains through community engagements programmes of Advocacy, Awareness Creation/Sensitization, Mentoring and Reorientation should be applauded and embraced by all and sundry.
POCACOV represents a new approach by the Nigeria Police Force in Combating Cultism and Other Vices including the inhalation of drugs such as DABA, SHILA, SARASUKA and other dangerous substance prevalent amongst our Nigerian youths thereby making them to behave in a certain way.
POCACOV is a community driven programme and community policing tools customized and tailored to work with different stakeholders and resolving incidences of cultism and other vices in the country using community oriented approaches.POCACOV commends the efforts of many groups and organizations that have identified with this laudable initiative of the Nigeria Police Force.
POCACOV solicits for legislation by law making body on the proscriptions of various notorious cult and violent group in the country that houses Nigerian Youths. The efforts of the Akwa Ibom State Government in proscribing Cult and Violent groups in Akwa Ibom state is commendable just as other states are expected because the youths are the society.The youths supposed to be given a leadership direction and alternatives because the Youths they say,are the leaders of tomorrow and POCACOV,ITS ALL ABOUT YOU!
