Female Students’ Involvement in Cult Related Activities in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria

Abstract

Cultism as a social vice has become a way of life, especially among young people, many of whom do not realize or appreciate the true nature and implications of what they are engaged in. Cultism is a social crime despite becoming a common practice in secondary and tertiary schools. This social ill, which is not limited to schools, has led to the loss of lives, property, resources, values and societal harmony. In particular, the involvement of female students in cult related activities has also become a serious threat to the entire Nigerian nation and its education system. The noble intention for the establishment of these groups has been eroded by rivalry between and among these various groups leading to violent activities. The establishment of the female cult group is to register the presence of feminine touch in order to checkmate male dominance and show of solidarity. However, the activities of the female group differ quite significantly from the operations of the male group, though there are things they have in common. This paper therefore extorts the historical development of cultism, causes of female cultism, their initiation, recruitment and activities with the hope of suggesting measures to curb their activities.