Cult attacks are not unusual for citizens of Ilesa metropolis. Ilesa and its surrounding areas appear to be unique since they consistently endure cult attacks, in contrast to other towns that only do so occasionally, usually around election time.
More than seven young youths who ought to be preoccupied with growth and country building, perished in the most recent cult attack, which occurred last year.
The traditional leadership of the town forced cult-affiliated youths to drink a spiritual water called “Omi Owa” at the palace only three years ago as a result of multiple killings brought on by cult organizations’ retaliatory attacks.
To control and prevent crimes related to cultism, they established an organization named “Omo Owa Omo Ekun.” They also vowed to empower and rehabilitate cultists who are prepared to renounce their beliefs and submit to the authorities.
As of the time this report was filed, there were no records proving that these aggressive teenagers were given authority over them, employed, or involved with their older brothers. Mining corporations only used a few tough males as field laborers and for security.
It is frustrating that a palace costing millions of dollars was constructed during the time the leadership pledged empowerment, a source who wished to remain anonymous informed WITHIN NIGERIA.
A member of the Eiye fraternity named Segun was murdered in front of VALUMALL, which is located in Okesa Street, Ilesa, months after the community felt they were safe from cult attacks.
A few weeks later, angry cult members traveling to the Ilesa area shot three Osun State College of Health Technology students in the eye, knee, and waist, respectively.
On a Saturday night at 8:35 p.m., three young adults on a bike shot a senior citizen at Anifowose Junction in Ilesa. The aforementioned guy, who was later revealed to be a traditional chief, passed away at the Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital.
Two young males were killed at Imo Street in Ilesa only 48 hours after the horrific tragedy. The next day, a cult retaliation attack at Sabo Junction, Irojo, resulted in the deaths of two other young men.
This reporter learned that cultism will be impossible for police and other law enforcement agencies to curb or eradicate due to factors responsible for the rapid growth of cultism in the town, despite the fact that residents and natives of Ilesa metropolis continue to live in palpable fear due to potential future attacks.
According to a security source, the problem must be resolved from the ground up. There won’t be any more room in the prisons if we keep detaining these young people. A security source stated that we must address the root of the problem.
The security source, who also happens to be a top cop, had a viewpoint that this reporter shared. This reporter carefully rolled out the main causes of the rapid rise of cultism in the town in an effort to contribute to conversations and propose answers to the recurring cult attacks that have subdued locals and natives of Ilesa for years.
BROKEN HOMES
Broken houses result from divorcing or separating couples. These couples’ children grow up in broken households as a result of having a single parent raising them. Ilesa metropolitan has an extremely high broken home index, according to information obtained WITHIN NIGERIA.
Seven out of ten marriages end in divorce, and this reporter also saw an increase in the number of single moms in the community.
Undoubtedly, one of the main causes of the cult’s explosive expansion in the Ilesa metropolis is broken families. This reporter saw some youngsters who had been detained for robbery, disturbing the peace, and cultism while visiting some police stations.
This reporter’s research showed that most children are raised by a single parent. In a conversation with WITHIN NIGERIA, a senior police official claimed that seven out of ten cult members were actually reared by single parents.
Further research found that teens who have been inadequately reared by single parents are constantly wanting to leave homes because they don’t feel safe and secure. They rely on their friends to help them achieve peace, but they ultimately join criminal gangs so they can do whatever they want, whenever they want. In search of safety, many also join cults.
YAHOO-YAHOO
Fraud is another element contributing to the rise in young people joining cults. Cult members make up the majority of young people who engage in fraudulent activities like yahoo business and identity theft, among others.
According to research by WITHIN NIGERIA, yahoo-yahoo business is practiced by eight out of ten young people in Ilesa. To protect themselves from young adults affectionately referred to as “Egbon Adugbo,” who take advantage of them whenever they can, they join cults.
In addition to being exploited, individuals join cults to intimidate other con artists or intermediaries who wish to defraud them. Further examination found that the majority of these young people are dropouts who have considered fraud as a means of obtaining wealth.
A 24-year-old man who only went by the name “Space” said to WITHIN NIGERIA that he began his yahoo company in secondary school after failing the WASSCE and being unable to enroll in any postsecondary institutions due to his failure.
LOW SELF ESTEEM AND PEER INFLUENCE
The rapid rise of cultism in the Ilesa metropolis is mostly caused by low self-esteem. In the town, secondary and postsecondary institutions were where this component was most concentrated.
Cult groups are formed by students with the goal of harassing and intimidating teachers and other students. To fulfill their needs, wants, and demands, they depend on the initiators’ use of force.
This reporter’s research found that peer pressure and low self-esteem are the main reasons why secondary school students, especially those in tertiary institutions, are motivated to join cults.
An anonymous 19-year-old student who claims to be a Buccaneer Confraternity member informed WITHIN NIGERIA that he joined the group to stop harassment and molestation by older coworkers.
When I first got to school, I had to deal with many hardships and challenges from my challenging classmates and seniors. They beat us up occasionally and threatened us over trivial matters. When I told another senior about the problem, he pledged to defend me. Larry stumbled and said, “I didn’t know he was a Buccaneer Confraternity member.”
Another student who went by the name “Kunlex” revealed to this reporter that he was coerced into joining a cult by pals. I later learned that the only way to benefit from such is to become closer to these large brothers when he added that his buddies wear luxury shoes and clothes that some big brothers have given them. He said, “I started following them whenever they planned to leave until I was initiated.”
YAHOO BOYS RECRUITING OKADA RIDERS
According to research by WITHIN NIGERIA, the economic ties between Okada riders and yahoo boys have accelerated the spread of cultism in the region.
This reporter learned that yahoo lads are now buying motorcycles and giving them to young people without jobs who are struggling to feed their families. These kids amass the motorcycles and work as the yahoo boys’ personal drivers or errand boys.
The jobless kids were allegedly introduced by these yahoo boys, who claimed that it was done on purpose to give them security for the motorcycles that were given to them.
According to a credible source who spoke to WITHIN NIGERIA, the unemployed youths who received motorcycles from the yahoo boys were initiated because they occasionally drove the yahoo boys to their meeting places and did so to keep their secrets safe.
Because of the weak economy and rising unemployment index, they were able to see more victims. People who stood to gain would invite others. The source continued, “They view it as a better alternative to higher purchase.”
YAHOO YAHOO EDUCATION
According to research by WITHIN NIGERIA, yahoo lads now provide coaching to teach children and school dropouts how to con people.
These coaching centers, which provide a variety of lessons like schools, began as a free browsing area for young people interested in the internet before growing into a syndicate.
Additionally, it was learned that kids eager to live a good life in this syndicate would be inducted into cult groups in order to safeguard the secrets of their leaders.
One of the requirements to gain access to major clients or more complicated schemes for obtaining money through fraud, according to a trustworthy source, is to be initiated into cults.
