WHO SAYS CULTISM IS NOT PROFITABLE !

By. Kenechukwu Chukwudi.

The menace of cultism and cult related activities is ravaging cities, towns and communities in the South East. Awka; the capital of Anambra state seem to have felt the harsh brunt of cultic activities, experiencing killing in the most brutal form on daily basis with institutions of state such as the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, Directorate of State Security Service, DSS and others appearing helpless in tackling the deadly menace.

Even though the statistics are not available, Awka has had about half a thousand of its youth and youth residents killed in the most gruesome manner in broad daylight for years running, and it has become a cliche for the older generation and others even to cry in loud voices when this killing are announced: “What is the gain in cultism if not death” “what would make a youth join cult” “What does cult really offer one” amongst others.

Well, probably a discovery it would be, to observe or see that beyond the negatives, their might be so much gain in cultism, peculiar to a clime like Nigeria nay the South East.

The figures are humongous, the level of unemployment and underemployment in the country. The South East has a large share in this it seems, industries, big firms and Federal Government institutions that would have absolved this large Army of unemployed youths seem to be almost nonexistent in this geopolitical zone and even for the trading and business we are known for, the incentives for growth; capital, loan facilities, infrastructures etc are almost not available, the playing turf for youths is simply ‘survival of the fittest’ a situation that engenders social disorder and anarchy.

The ‘Get Rich Quick’ syndrome, that has eaten deep into our society, which most families has lost its moral compass of guiding the youths properly, has also become an enabler in the gains of cultism.

Now, joining a cult group will probably give an unemployed youth a sense of belonging. Being in the midst of those caught up in the same situation, orchestrated by a backward moving country that doesn’t take cognizance of its large youth populace by making social and economic provisions for them, the cult becomes a sort of a relief to the depression and reality of living in a terrible clime.

Economic survival is the hallmark of every adult and in a country that opportunities are limited and almost nonexistent even for the employed (underemployed actually) needs/wants must be met, the only way to meet those is to resort to crime and criminality especially theft, robbery, kidnapping and other sundry and violent crimes, which cultists actively participate in this crimes to meet not just their needs but wants.

I once met some young guys deep inside the bush while escorting a land owner to check on his plots of land, this guys were probably armed (given the situation) and I wondering what they were doing there, only to note that they were there to protect land for land racketeers and grabbers and paid hugely for their services.

Plenty Politicians and ‘strong men’ keep these cultists under their payroll and ‘custody’ for when ‘the need’ arises, to use their ‘services’ at will and achieve their clandestine objectives and these boys are paid hugely for their services that an average worker in the employ of Federal, State and big private firm wouldn’t get, some of these loyal cultists are also settled with parks, pits and other rewards by the politicians and strongmen compounding a lot of issues and rivalries amongst themselves and opposing cult groups.

These cultists enjoy premium luxury in the hands of their sponsors and it becomes a regular job for them to remain cultists and loyal to their groups while being brutal to anybody or anything that stands in their way, the way a rightfully employed youth would protect their job at all cost.

Cultism has become an escape route for our youths in the face of lack of social and economic empowerment though not the way to go but seem to be a better and lucrative alternative for our dear youth populace, even if the consequences are daring, their is no better alternative for all the youthful energy to be channeled, as life is all about risks, even the risk of dying doesn’t sound so much of a thing for the youths for the Golden Fleece.

Unless the fundamentals are tackled beyond enacting laws and applying excess force which is an immediate remedy to the situation, this challenge would still be amongst us. God help us all.

©️ Copyright: Kenechukwu Chukwudi.