Beyond Brotherhood: Confraternity Promise, The Destructive Allure of Cultism.
Eben Enasco Reporting
The distinction between confraternity, fraternity and cultism is crucial in understanding the surge in the renewed killings in Edo State.
No one needs to hide from the current killing spree where humans are hunted down like animals in every part of Edo State.
From notable societal war fighters like Supreme Eiye Confraternity, SEC, Black Axe also known as Aiye, Maphite, Vickins, Jurists, Buccaneers, and many others the story is the same.
Everyday, it is the same palpable fear created out of the true meaning of Confraternity corrupted to Cultism.
The energy decipated by those who corrupted Cultism deviation from the original Confraternity initiative set by earlists is a bump in the heart and unbelievably pusant.
Confraternity, or brotherhood, exists in various forms, including religious orders and university campuses.
Initially, when confraternities were created, it was aimed to foster discipline, academic excellence, and social responsibility.
Examples include, Pyrate Confraternity founded in a Nigerian university over 50 years ago, Skull & Bones, Yale University, Knight of Columbus, Catholic dogma, and the military which was originally formed for national service.
These groups contributed positively to their nations, with notable members becoming leaders and change-makers.
Cultism, however, is a corrupt deviation from confraternity principles.
Nigerian cults focus on destruction, pillage, and violent power struggles for political intimidation and extrajudicial killings.
Unfortunately, what is luring students to cultism these days is the hopelessness and joblessness in the nation, and more importantly, the need to be relevant since looting and extra judicial killing have become a way of gaining recognition and of making money, the same money that hard work could have earned cult members.
In Edo State, it’s either Black Axe, also known as Aiye, Against Maphite, Supreme Eiye Confraternity, or Vickins.
This has become the reoccurring trends with souls killed gruesomely.
In a record heart breaking news sometime in June 2024, the Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has decried the activities of Cultism activities in the State and handed a matching order to security operatives to go full blast against perpetrators.
Obaseki said a review of cult activities indicated that 150 persons have been lost to cult-related activities and homicide from January 2024 June.
He disclosed this to journalists after a closed-door meeting with security Chiefs in Edo state, at the Government House in Benin City.
This is as no major trace to why people were killed when the state is not at war with anybody.
A few days ago, another clash between the Eiye Confraternity and Vickins exploded in the Idogbo Upper Sakpoba axis of Ikpoba Okha LGA, living over nine people dead at various locations since the renewed clash.
It was learned that the clash between the two deadly groups escalated when a member of Eiye Confraternity was hacked to death by Vickins also known as Norsemen.
According to a close source, while leaders of the two groups were seeking a resolution to hurt further escalation, there was another attack from the Vickins that got two suspected members of Eiye Confraternity killed and a reterliation was launched where members of the Vickins were killed in numbers.
The escalated crisis has left residents to scamper for safety extending to other areas of the state with no one in the know when the crisis will end.
A major attribute to the restiveness
is unemployment which has become a factor that can’t be waved aside given its adverse influence on youth development.
An idle mind is said to be friends of the devil and whenever young, impressionable and energetic young men and even women have more time in their hands, they can be dangerous to themselves and to the nation.
We have all been concentrating on making the almighty Naira Dollar conversions to the detriment of our children’s lives.
Rather, we must understand the mind set of these cult members, parents must be alert to the activities of their children and know who friends of their children are.
Our responsibility to rid the nation of cultism corrupted from confraternity begins at home.
Since these so-called big men are using these kids to cause mayhem and chaos, I am challenging the government to identify the supporters and users of cult members, take them to court and rid these menace to our society.
Fraternities attract diverse individuals with varying missions.
While some may harbor malicious intent, others promote angelic acts. The key lies in harnessing their positive potential.
Understanding the difference between confraternity and cultism is vital. Fraternities can be forced for good or ill.
It is crucial to recognize and address the harmful deviations that have plagued Edo state.
The authorities must collaborate with all interest groups to reduce the soaring effects of the deviation called Cultism to halt the untimely death awaiting the next door neighbour.