The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has called on the police and other security agencies to intensify their efforts in combating cultism, and ending the incessant cult killings in the country.
The student body expressed worry over the recent surge in cult-related violence that has plagued the country, lamenting that these senseless killings had claimed the lives of many promising young Nigerians, instilled fear among residents, and disrupted the peaceful atmosphere essential for the socio-economic growth of the country.
NANS made the call on Saturday in a statement signed by the National Clerk of the Senate, Abdul-Yekinni Odunayo.
The student body lamented that cultism had turned some parts of Ogun State, particularly Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta, Ilaro, Ota, and Ifo, into theatres of war as members of rival cult groups engaged one another in gruesome clashes.
NANS raised the alarm over impending attacks and bloody clashes between rival cult groups on 7 July, saying, “7/7 is a date particularly set aside to mark day of a notorious cult group, where different cult groups engage in bloody clashes.
“The day is always marked with blood shed by rival cult groups to demonstrate their notoriety and superiority.
“Cultism, as we all know, is not only an aberration in our society, it is evil that has caused the deaths of so many students and other residents. The menace has turned Ogun State, particularly our campuses, into theatres of war, where members of different cult groups battle for supremacy.
“The recent gruesome attack and murder of a final year student of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State, by suspected cultists is heart-wrenching and saddening.
“According to an eyewitness account, Ahmed Ayinla Fabiyi, a student of the History and Diplomatic Studies Department, was set to take his final paper and celebrate his birthday on the same day, when he was brazenly dragged out of the examination hall.
“Fabiyi, a suspected cultist, was reportedly hacked to death by members of his rival cult group right on the school premises.
“It was gathered that the gang disguised as friends, ostensibly there to surprise Fabiyi for his birthday, and carried him out of the hall under this pretence.
“NANS condemns this barbaric act in strong terms. The perpetrators must be fished out by our security agencies and made to face justice.
“We, hereby, appeal to the Ogun State government to ensure the killers of Fabiyi and many others like him don’t go unpunished.
“We, hereby, reiterate that engaging in cultism is not noble but a facade to perpetrate evil and commit heinous crimes. Students should not allow themselves to be cajoled into joining anyone, no matter innocuous it may appear on the surface. Cultism is cultism, and the result of engaging in it is always regrettable.
“Evil is evil, no matter the colouration you give it. Cultism is destructive, and it will only bring pain and anguish at the end of the day”, Odunayo said.
