BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

Cultism is one of the major problems confronting Edo State and, of course, any Commissioner of Police posted to the state. The rate at which youths in the state, particularly in Benin-City, “blend” into different cult groups is so worrisome to law enforcement agents who try to stop them, some times during initiations, at the late hours of the night.

But the situation is more worrisome in Benin-City, after the police command in the state discovered that teenagers are being initiated into two cult groups. Eiye Confrarnity and Hallah of the Night.

The Edo police boss, Adebanjo, explained that eight suspected members of the Hallah of the Night were arrested in Uromi while seven members of the Eiye Confraternity were arrested at Ologbo.Last week in Benin-City, Edo State Police Commissioner, Funso Adebanjo, paraded 15 youths, between ages 13 and 15, suspected of being cultists, with different arms and ammunition. The suspects were said to have been arrested at Unewa village near Uromi and Ologbo town respectively, and confessed to being members of Eiye Confraternity and Hallah of the Night. Some of the items recovered from them include two battle axes, one Eiye Confraternity flag and a calabash.

“They confessed that they were initiated by other members of the group. We are surprised that little boys are going into cultism and they did not deny,’’ Adebanjo said. ‘’Some of them said they just felt that belonging to a cult group will give them the confidence that they are now big boys. Majority of them are secondary school students, but some are out of school, especially those who are in Eiye, those ones who are members of the Hallah of the Night are secondary school students. We discovered that this issue of peer group where children mix with friends is very dangerous because that is how these people are initiated into cultism. It is unfortunate that it happens, parents have a role to play to protect their children
. ‘’The law will not spare them if they commit any offence, no matter their age. What they are doing is unlawful and that is how they enter into crimes like armed robbery and kidnapping. We have discovered that these cultists are fearless and they are the ones who can do anything, they can be ruthless. These are people who will storm people’s houses and slaughter their targets like the ISIS group in Iraq or even Boko Haram. We watch the ones they do in Iraq and think it is impossible, but it happens here in Nigeria.

‘’These cultists behead themselves when they are fighting. And that is why people like us are bothered because it has gone down to secondary and primary schools and that is worrisome and unfortunate. Their sponsors deceive them that they will be protected and these teenagers will join. It is very unfortunate; that is why parents must watch their children seriously, particularly the friends they keep. ‘’We will take them to juvenile court while those above 18 will be taken to a regular court”. The police boss further warned that the police in Edo would not tolerate any form of cultism, describing it as barbaric “and anyone caught will be dealt with accordingly.’’

One of the suspects, who identified himself as John Osagie, 13, spoke about how he joined the Hallah of the Night. “What happened was that some of my friends became so strong in school that people feared them. So they told me if I wanted to be strong, I should come and be their member. That is how they took me to the bush and I became a member.’’


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/weird-world-teenage-cultists/

http://www.naijacnn.com/2014/09/the-weird-world-of-teenage-cultists.html

http://www.naijabp.com/2014/09/the-weird-world-of-teenage-cultists-in.html

Unu anukwa! Hia!

Ghen Ghen

#Eiye

These young boys are been misled.
They haven't gone anywhere in life yet and their lives are already complicated.
Oh that someone will open their eyes to see the end of the path they are treading.

Parents should try as much as possible to build healthy self-esteem in their children so that they won't go looking for acceptance in the wrong places.

Even in Rivers and Imo too. It's so crazy seeing 14yr old joining cults.

These are the handy work of an unbalanced economy, 70% of it could/can be traced to wide range of poverty,those 15yrs of age below should be given mild sentence, while 16-18yrs of age should be given a medium sentence,then those r-e-t-a-r-d-e-d 19yrs of age are full grown men & should be given mean(harsh) sentences #iRestMyCase

This issue of cultism boils down to orientation and exposure, one thing I have noticed especially among cultists in higher institution is the belief that there's nothing bad in it.If you knew them before they became cultists, you'll notice that they desire to belong for one reason or the other, either poor self confidence or a delusion that cultists are untouchable.

That's what the world has turned into. It's saddening and pathetic.

Police should stop arresting boys indiscriminately in the name of cultism, is there no freedom of association in the country? I just need little money and connection I will sue edo state govt, commissioner of police, director of SSS all the VC, Rector and provost of schools for the numbers of youth they've killed.

Pishurs of the kids or.....

If ♈όϋ be outsider coming into Benin, make sure Loya milk na Ūя̲̅ brand, if not na sorry be Ūя̲̅ name!

this one is strong

Ambrose Alli university, Ekpoma and University Of Benin involving in cult activities since 190AD.

only in edo state.....

Pathetic!

Ph is worst

chelseabmw: Ambrose Alli university, Ekpoma and University Of Benin involving in cult activities since 190AD.

Lies

...

brb

Cultism at a age when this boys are supposed to be shaping their future #SayNoToCultism

Lmao............................ This sounds like funny..

And Cultism still dey reign for there ooo

Cultism in Nigeria is traceable to d likes of Wole Soyinka but it was for d good reasons. Today, seeing 13, 14, 15 years old boys claim to be cult is beyond my wildest imagination. Do they call it Big boyrism? Hmmm! That's BIG FOOLishness!!!

If you sell your soul to the devil,have it in mind that he will demand for it one day.

aro mate!!

Ambrose Alli University also known as Edo War College.

vv

2015 drama in Edo is gradually coming into limelight

Teenage gangs in Nigeria

this is only a tip of the iceberg...... I mean one needs to see for himself. I don't know why oshiomole cant give military a contract of maybe 6months such that any cultist will be dealt with like it was done in my town in delta. That's the only way to cure edo boys kolo.....

Have always been hearing of edo n cultism hope say TBJ go preach give dem