Stakeholder Blames Erosion Of Societal Values For Cultism

A civil servant residing in Port Harcourt, Mr. Kote Benison has attributed the increase in cultism among youths in-spite of the spread of Christianity to disregard for societal values, political sponsorship and ignorance.
Kote, who stated this while speaking with The Tide in Port Harcourt at the weekend explained that there was an increase in cultism among youth as a result of ignorance of the danger that is involved in cult activities. He listed influence from peer groups, parental neglect, political sponsorship during elections and quest to satisfy sociatal needs as responsible for the spate of cultism in the society.
He told parents to educate their children on the dangers of cultism and urged the society to condemn cultism.
According to him, there should be proper orientation as well as enlightenment programme on the dangers of cultism.
Kote also said that the police should make more efforts to prevent any cult activity in the state as well as arrest and prosecute offenders.
He also told the public to report to the police any activity of cultists in their area.
Speaking with The Tide newspaper, a respondent Engr. Dr. Asinyetonha Igoni disclosed that the society had made the practice of cultism attractive for young people today by making most of the important positions to be occupied by cultists in the name of repentance (Amnesty).
Another respondent, Mr. Basoene Jack also said that cultism wasn’t a reprehensible act in those days. It is an avenue with which group of people especially in the university come together to fight against oppression, intimidation or to fight for their right but today it has become a reprehensible act because these group of persons now terrorise, intimidate, steal etc and yet young people still engage in it because of the societal benefit.
He noted that the present society tended to believe that when they engaged in cult activities the future would be very bright for them and explained that some young ones especially, in the university environment engaged in this act to have group influence, to press on with violence, intimidate their peers, lecturers and to cause mayhem.

Baribama Deele & Boma Ikiriko