"248 to renounce membership of campus cultism" – Foundation

March 9, 2017 7:57 PM

CCEF had earlier taken the anti-cultism campaign to 13 states of the federation before coming to Oyo state.

Cultism

Mr

Ejembi disclosed this on Thursday at a stakeholders’ meeting with Chief Security Officers (CSOs) and Deans of Students Affairs of all the tertiary institutions in the state, held at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.

CCEF is a non-governmental organisation working in conjunction with the Office of Inspector-General of Police (I-GP) to curb the menace of cultism in tertiary institutions in the country.

Ejembi noted that 115 among the 248 persons that want to renounce campus cultism are not students, while the remaining 133 comprises both male and female students.

He said that CCEF had earlier taken the anti-cultism campaign to 13 states of the federation before coming to Oyo state.

Ejembi said that approximately 14,000 students and non-students have renounced their membership of cultists’ groups with the support of the I-GP, adding that the renunciation will hold within the next 10 days.

Ejembi disclosed that he was a cultist for 13 years and pointed out that non-student cultists “are usually used as accomplices for robbery, kidnapping, drug dealing, thuggery and other vices.

“Cultism is a deadly menace that destroys the lives of innocent Nigerians, either directly or indirectly, rendering them hopeless. It is a threat to any security in a state.

“Our tertiary institutions have become recruitment ground and barracks for different cult to run their activities.

“Hundreds die every year as a result of cult related clashes. Hundreds are initiated into cultism every year. So, many are not truly aware of the evil associated with cultism before getting initiated.

“I will advise leaders of all tertiary institutions in Oyo state to try and assist the police in creating awareness about cultism.”

Ejembi noted that the heartbeat of any nation is the youth because they are the leaders for tomorrow.

He stated that the foundation and the Nigeria Police Force have been and would continue to rehabilitate cultists that have renounced or that want to renounce their membership of the groups they belong.