Cultism

By Hassan Idris

Honestly, I’m tired of Wadata Community, Makurdi. I have spoken out and written several articles and been published in various newspapers, yet things continue to worsen. The incessant killings in the name of cultism are exhausting and appalling. Every day, we wake up to the sound of continuous heavy gunshots. And with each shot comes injury or death.

Some weeks ago, there were serious gunshots at night. I had to close my gate tightly and hide inside my room. Not less than ten bullets were fired into the sky. Last night, I was startled awake by gunfire in our Wadata Community again. Sadly, these disturbances aren’t uncommon, so I tried to go back to sleep despite feeling uneasy.

This morning, as I rushed to the Islamiyya where I teach, eager to start the day with my students, I saw people around the area. I was told that the gunshots I heard last night killed Nurah and injured another young man. Bullets had pierced through Nurah’s neck while he was having tea and bread at a Mai Shayi joint. Nurah was rushed to the hospital but died instantly, while the other young man, who was shot in the leg, is still receiving treatment.

This is a stark reminder of the grip cultism has on our community. Like many others, this young man paid the ultimate price due to our collective negligence—parents, society, and the government alike. As I stood there this morning, I couldn’t help but imagine the pain and fear he must have felt in his last moments.

Cultism in the Wadata Community, Makurdi, is a tragic cycle of violence that has claimed too many young lives, leaving families devastated and dreams shattered. It’s tempting to blame parents, society, or the government, but the reality is more complex. Cultism thrives in neglected and indifferent communities, preying on vulnerable young people. It’s a symptom of deeper issues—a lack of opportunities, guidance, and protection for our children.

As I stood before my students, unable to find the words to teach, I felt a deep sense of urgency. We can’t keep losing our young people to cultism. It’s up to all of us—parents, teachers, leaders, and policymakers—to come together and tackle this problem head-on.

May we find the wisdom and courage to act decisively, to protect our children’s future, and to heal the wounds caused by senseless violence. Only then can we restore the promise and potential lost to the darkness of cultism.

Hassan Idris wrote via idrishassan035@gmail.com.

By Idris Hassan

Last night, as I struggled to sleep after taking medicine for a cough, I was startled awake by the sound of gunshots in our Wadata Community in Makurdi. Sadly, these disturbances aren’t uncommon, so instead of investigating, I tried to go back to sleep despite feeling uneasy.

This morning, as I rushed to the Islamiyya where I teach, eager to start the day with my students, I came across a scene that will stay with me for a long time. There, in a pool of blood, lay the body of a young man, no older than twenty, brutally murdered. Bullets had pierced his neck, and his stomach had been cut open with an axe, exposing his intestines to the morning sun.

It was a stark reminder of the grip that cultism has on our community. Like many others, this young man had paid the ultimate price for being involved in these dangerous groups. As I stood there, I couldn’t help but imagine the pain and fear he must have felt in his last moments.

The arrival of police sirens shattered the silence, and we all quickly left the scene. It was later revealed that the victim was a known cultist, targeted and killed by rival factions. It’s a tragic cycle of violence that has taken too many young lives, leaving families devastated and dreams shattered.

It’s tempting to blame parents, society, or the government, but the reality is more complex. Cultism thrives in neglected and indifferent communities, preying on vulnerable young people. It’s a symptom of deeper problems—a lack of opportunities, guidance, and protection for our children.

As I stood before my students, unable to find the words to teach, I felt a deep sense of urgency. We can’t keep losing our young people to cultism. It’s up to all of us—parents, teachers, leaders, and policymakers—to come together and tackle this problem head-on.

May we find the wisdom and courage to act decisively, to protect our children’s future, and to heal the wounds caused by senseless violence. Only then can we restore the promise and potential lost to the darkness of cultism.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari 

The cult war at the University of Benin has resulted in the death of a student at the university.

Three other students of the institution were reported to have sustained different degrees of injuries as a result of the clash. 

However, as of the time of writing this report, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident. 

“I am yet to be briefed of [sic] such an incident. When I get the brief, I will let you know but for now no information,” he said.  

The incident reportedly happened at the Anatomy Department of the University on Friday, when the enraged cultists stormed the department gate to kill their target.

The deceased was shot at close range, while others were shot while trying to escape. 

The cult clash has caused panic among students and members of the staff of the institution. 

The University of Benin is reputed for deadly cult attacks in the country. Many students of the institution believed this incident was the university living up to its reputation.

By Muhammad Sabiu

A soldier accidentally shot his comrade during a confrontation with suspected cultists in the Ibafo region of Ogun State, causing chaos.

Yahoo lads, a bunch of internet scammers, were said to have launched an attack on each other following a dispute.

One party hired cultists to attack the other, and the other hired soldiers to combat the other in a free-for-all battle.

When the cultists saw the military soldiers approaching in a private car,  they started pelting them with stones, bottles, and other things, according to one eyewitness.

This enraged the military personnel, one of whom attempted to cock his rifle, but accidentally fired his companions.

Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the event when contacted.

The police spokesperson was quoted as saying: “Some internet fraudsters were having issues with one another over an issue. One group invited cultists, while the other some soldiers.

“The soldiers went to the scene of the incident in a private car. They were attacked by some hoodlums said to be cultists. We learnt that one of the soldiers mistakenly fired his colleague, who had been rushed to the hospital.

“Our officers are on top of the matter and normalcy has been restored to the place.”

By Muhammadu Sabiu

On Saturday, the Ogun State Police Command announced the arrest of Sikiru Ibrahim, a 27-year-old man who hacked his father to death after rousing him up from his sleep.

The incident began when the deceased, Mumuni Ibrahim, a guard, got home from work on Wednesday morning and discovered his son asleep.

Ibrahim is claimed to have awoken his kid and questioned him about why he was still in bed at such a late hour.

Sikiru, a suspected cultist, was claimed to have attacked his father with a cutlass, enraged at his father’s actions.

Ibrahim was believed to have died on Thursday while receiving treatment at a medical hospital for injuries sustained in the attack.

DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, said the culprit was apprehended after one Abiodun Sunday, described as the deceased’s neighbour, filed a report at the Onipanu Divisional Headquarters.

Mr Opeyemi was quoted as saying, “The neighbour reported that the deceased, Mumuni Ibrahim, a guard, returned home and met his son who was still sleeping, and when he asked him why he was still sleeping at that time of the day, the suspect got annoyed and brought out a cutlass with which he attacked the victim.

“Upon the report, the DPO Onipanu Division, CSP Bamidele Job, quickly mobilised his men and moved to the scene where the suspect was arrested, and the victim rushed to a general hospital for treatment. The suspect, who is strongly suspected to be a cultist, has no reasonable explanation for his action when interrogated.”