Investigation reveals that violent cults now have junior cadre in secondary schools in states like Nasarawa and FCT

The recent death of Sylvester Oromoni, a student of Dowen College in Lagos and the allegations of cult-related activities in the highbrow school has raised questions on cultism in secondary schools.

Master Oromoni, in his dying declaration, accused some students of beating him in what bears semblance to the initiation rites of secret cults in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Police in Lagos State has confirmed the arrest of three of the students mentioned by the late student.

While the case of the Dowen College has attracted nationwide condemnations, including resolutions at the two chambers of the National Assembly, findings revealed that bullying and cultism are very pronounced in public secondary schools in Nigeria.

Red Skin, which is the junior frat to the pirate secret cult and black skull, which is the junior boys for black axe are the two most popular in Abuja and Nasarawa State. Girls in these schools are also not left out, as Black bra, Red bra Daughters of Jezebel and White Angel also give girls the platform.

Peter Ejegwoya, a development expert, who spoke with DAILY POST, said even though the initial aspirations of the founders of fraternity in Nigeria include emancipation and fight against oppressors, these ideas have been abandoned for criminality.

“These frats now are symbols of violent criminality and oppression. Some of the secondary school students are in it for the powers they feel cultism can confer on them,” he said.

He added that to address the challenges, society must rejig the old value system and educate these students that cultism brings nothing apart from destruction.

In most schools in Nigeria, the concept of ‘seniority’ and corporal punishment have a long history.

Even though the general observation is that it has reduced, there are still bullying in schools.

Further  investigation revealed that it is still prevalent in public schools, particularly the unity schools owned by the federal government, popularly referred to as federal government colleges.

Speaking to a former student of federal government college, Idoani in Ondo State, she disclosed that while the school has an anti-bullying policy, junior students dare not report cases of bullying for the fear of being targeted as a ‘snitch.’