They go by different names and they exist everywhere within our society and various institutions of learning.Some are no longer secret cults again, take for instance the pyrates now have anchor points or club houses in the open.The reformed ogboni members their stickers pasted on their cars
They cut across various age groups and the most dangerous and senseless groups are usually between ages 12-19.
REASONS FOR JOINING
– search for responsibility
– search for satisfaction of one’s aspiration( to pass exams, make money or politics)
– search for protection ( security)
– search for social identity
– financial assistance
– frustration
– membership recruitment can also be through persuasion, coersion or oppression
– revenge seeking
– community dominance
– just for the fun of it
ACTIVITIES
They are usually involved in robbery, kidnapping, political and religious killngs. Reasons for these senseless killings are sometimes battle for supremacy , dispute over girlfriends/boyfriends, political leanings and campus politics, minor societal disputes or community clashes and so many other flimsy excuses and sometimes just to show bravado
Dangerous weapons such as guns , knives, machetes, acid etc are used freely
They indulged in various drugs such as cocaine,heroin, tramadol, solution, marijuana, alcoholism but most dangerous and decisive are teetollars
They cut across primary, secondary and tertiary institutions and sporting activities or community based
IDENTITIES
They have various signs and insigna, body tattoos, colours etc for identification
They can mobilise at short notice to carry out attacks in numbers, outwit security agencies and can sometimes infiltrate the agencies
Some look gentle and decent while some are loud and rugged looking
There are ranks and levels of command in each unit and loyalty is solid and are ready to die for each other
They hardly confess members when caught because they are under oath
CAUSES
– parental and home background( parents involvement in similar activities)
– societal decay- mad rush to acquire wealth and power
– emotional sickness, frustration and depression
– peer group influence
– support from authorities serving as patrons
– inadequate religious religious and moral education
– unscruplous lecturers
Watch out for the concluding part ” TACKLING THIS MENACE”
I am not APC or PDP i desire the best for Nigeria
-Salu Ayoola ph
