Teenage Cultism - Implications For Economic Development And National Security
Teenage Cultism simply refers to involvement or recruitment of those persons, male or female within the age range of 13 years old to 19 years old into membership of cult groups for cult activities.
Introduction:
Cultism has grown to become a huge menace in our present day society with its adverse effects on citizens’ lives in schools, business environments and communities especially with Artisans involvement. However, all strata of society are implicated such as some mechanics, traders, business moguls, drivers, bus conductors, some members of the political class as well as other working class members amongst others. Many lives have been lost and properties destroyed due to the activities of cults. Among the lives lost include some teenagers who eventually and most times are victims of reprisal attacks by rival cult groups.
What then is a Cult?
A cult is referred to as a sociology elite group, a self identified group of people who share a narrowly defined interest or perspective. A cult, otherwise known as an unlawful society is one of the kinds of Organised Criminal Groups (OCG’s) gaining local, national and international networks as its members are scattered all over the mainstream of life including in business, academia, family, artisans, traders, schools (primary, secondary and tertiary institutions) etc
Cultism is the practice of activities that are associated with secret cults.
A secret cult is referred to as organisation whose membership and modes of operation are considered unconventional and known to its members only such as voodoo, rituals, violence and also with a high volume of criminality.
Teenage Cultism:
Teenagers (younger minds) are constantly recruited into membership of these unlawful societies (Cults) due to circumstances identified as push and pull factors such as poor parenting, unavailability of equal opportunities, peer group influence, economic hardship, the quest for adventure, lack of social justice leading to taking laws into ones hands, as well as other vulnerabilities. OCG’s capitalise on these vulnerabilities to lure them into such unlawful societies and use them to sustain their criminal business enterprises.
These teenagers are not faced with the right guidance and orientation and some challenges which they might be facing easily lead to their intense vulnerability making it easier and quicker for them to being recruited into these deadly monster groups.
In addition, some family challenges (dysfunctional family) and some levels of hardship result in a high rate of out of school children. This, with the wrong belief and option that money answereth all things paves the way for them to becoming members of unlawful societies (Cultism).
Technological advancements and the use of smartphones and exposure and patronage to negative online sites have also motivated teenagers’ intentional involvement into becoming membership of unlawful Societies.
Another factor is ignorance and lack of understanding and knowledge about the antics of recruitment into these groups by these teenagers.
Implications For Economic Development And National Security:
Its National Security implications are enormous and negative. On daily bases, these groups’ nefarious activities have caused panic and people running helter skelter which truncates and disrupts business and academic activities in our society. Cultists encourage, engage in and carry out moral ruin, drug trafficking, fraud related activities, murder, terrorism, sexual harassment, rape, armed robbery, prostitution, arson, political thuggery, assassination amongst others. Their activities contain high levels of criminality.
There is this worry that is centred on allegation that if one does not belong to a certain cult group, such one, it is said will never see himself in any leadership position or be be known in the society.
Cultism is a huge problem for the society as it is a threat to socio-economic development and National security. The young minds who are supposed to be leaders of tomorrow joining cult groups at their teenage years implies that decadence will pervade the land and become a great danger to our society as most of the notable spaces will be taken over by cult groups including our economic and security spaces as they rise to become adults. A concerted effort is recommended to save our society from the danger of degenerating into what is read about other countries where gangsterism reigns supreme with people being shot and killed regularly and openly as well as where where drug barons and cultists sponsor people into governance and positions of authority so that their atrocities will continue to thrive unchecked (impunity).
The way out:
As cult groups target teenagers for recruitment in order to sustain their existence and criminal enterprises, all hands should be on deck by all and sundry in Government, Non governmental organisations, Faith based organisations, Traditional institutions, Academia, Security Agencies through a whole of society and multi Disciplinary approaches and cross sector networks with strong coalitions towards addressing ‘’root causes’’ of the problems responsible for this menace.
Continuous enlightenment and deliberate engagement of these young minds is urgently needed in the community and in schools for moral and ethical values rebirth. Creation of awareness on cultism, its dangers and their antics are needed.
There is also need for parental framework to be stabilised through parent support programmes which will help to alleviate the hefty financial responsibility they face which serve as impediments to carrying out their parental responsibilities and roles. Such frameworks include free education of children of certain ages, free medical care and transportation of children of certain ages, children and youth centres for promotion of cultures and values and skill acquisition (tech hub) and deliberate engagement platforms.
The teenagers can also through the activities of children and youth centres, be exposed to multi sports activities to help build their resilience and positive coping skills which will provide an alternative meaningful pathway for them and also help them not to yield to the pressures of joining cult groups.
-CSP EBERE AMARAIZU, Anipr, Cipr(UK)
CSP Ebere Amaraizu, Anipr, Cipr(UK) is a coach, Olympic sports Administrator and manager, former Police Public Relations Enugu State and former National Coordinator POCACOV. He is a PREVENT SOC’s Policing Expert and Trainer, Child care expert, Alumni Member of U.S Government’s International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) on U.S Judicial System; Protecting women and children.