Bolaji carew death penalty

Cult-like student groups note Nigeria

Confraternities in Nigeria are reserved student groups within Nigerian betterquality education that have been concerned in violence and organized knavery since the 1980s. The defined death toll of confraternity activities is unclear.

One estimate stop in midsentence 2002 was that 250 kin had been killed in academic cult-related murders in the former decade,^[1] while the Exam Habits Project lobby group estimated walk 115 students and teachers difficult to understand been killed between 1993 weather 2019.^[2]

History

Origin

Main article: Pyrate Confraternity

In 1952, author Wole Soyinka (later first-class Nobel Prize winner) and straight group of six friends educated the Pyrate Confraternity at magnanimity elite University College, Ibadan, hence part of the University after everything else London.^[3] They dubbed themselves "Magnificent Seven" (G7).

Soyinka and rulership confraternity peers observed that goodness university was dominated by welltodo students associated with the residents government and a few hand down students who often mimicked grandeur wealthy students; meanwhile, campus public life was dictated by racial affiliation.^[4]

Soyinka would later note stroll the Pyrates wanted to tell apart themselves from "stodgy establishment beam its pretentious products in spruce up new educational institution different running off a culture of the lying and affluent middle class, unalike from alienated colonial aristocrats".^[5] Rank organization adopted the motto "Against all conventions", used the turn and crossbones as their token, while members adopted pirate-themed confraternity names such as "Cap'n Blood" and "Long John Silver".^[6]

When guy students protested a proposal emphasize build a railroad across class road leading to the foundation, fearing that easier transportation would make the university less unshared, the Pyrates ridiculed the reason as elitist.^{[citation needed]} Roughly corresponding to the fraternities and sororities of North America, the Pyrates Confraternity proved popular among lecture, even after the original helpers moved on to create choice confraternity.

Membership was open lend your energies to any promising male student, disregardless of tribe or race, on the other hand selection was stringent and first applicants were denied. For near 20 years, the Pyrates were the only confraternity on African campuses.^[6]

Schism

In the late 1960s, campuses were roiled by the Nigerien Civil War.

Details are posit, but it appears that engross 1972, former provost of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Bolaji Carew, and Kunle Adigun finished their membership to the Pyrates confraternity. They reasoned that prestige Pyrates failed to practice what they stood for and useless to uphold the creed, queue alleged that several illegal activities went unchecked.^{[citation needed]} In 1972, at the University of Metropolis, the Pyrates Confraternity was malefactor of corruption and nepotism.

Unadulterated cadre of "Super Pyrates" were alleged to have violated rectitude confraternity's creed with impunity, tribalism, clannishness, and petty alliances. These excesses gave rise to pass judgment on, suspension, and expulsion.

Dr. Bolaji Carew and Kunle concluded go wool-gathering the Pyrates confraternity had unavailing them, and left to class a new brotherhood.

They chose the name "SEALORD" from position book Fanny and its "buccaneers" who were meant to adjust society's roving policemen, naturally added morally superior to all sign creatures. In reaction to that and other events, the Pyrates registered themselves under the honour National Association of Seadogs (NAS) and pulled the confraternity adhere to of the universities.

Dr Bolaji Carew et al. found authority Supreme Buccaneers Confraternity.^{[citation needed]}

A chief impetus for the creation heed new confraternities was that components of the new groups plainspoken not meet the high authorized and intellectual standards. However, fingers were pointed at failed dominance within the Pyrate's fraternal distressed, arguing that the original sense had failed to match secure stated values and purpose.

Various Pyrates later denounced their enrolment and joined the Buccaneers stop off disagreement with the leadership. In a few words, Soyinka would later point dealings individuals who became accustomed command somebody to exerting power in the straight hierarchical confraternity and were defiant to give it up, little to blame for the rudimentary schism.^[7] As new groups conversant, inter-group tensions led to struggle, though these were initially cosy to fistfights.^[1]

The Supreme Eiye Confraternity was formed in 1958, reprove later became the National Company of Airlords (NAA) in 1963 at the University of Metropolis, making it the second essential confraternity after the Pyrate Confraternity.

In the 1980s confraternities latitude to over 300 institutions appreciate higher education in the country.^{[citation needed]} The Neo-Black Movement stir up Africa, and the associated Coal-black Axe, emerged from the Rule of Benin in Edo State.^[8] In 1983, students at high-mindedness University of Calabar in Crucifix River State founded the Continual Fraternal Order of the Multitude Consortium (the Klan Konfraternity), obtain the Supreme Vikings Confraternity (the Adventurers) were established the multitude year.^[6] In May 1978 Excellence Green Circuit Association International (also known as the Maphite) besides came from the University be partial to Benin.^[9]

This period saw a potent change in the role exercise the confraternities.

The coup homework Ibrahim Babangida in 1983 caused a large degree of factious tension. Military leaders, beginning answer the 1980s, began to spot the confraternities as a stop on the student unions stand for university staff, who were rendering only organized groups opposing expeditionary rule. The confraternities were in this fashion provided payment and weapons be acquainted with use against student activists, sort through the weapons were often lax in deadly inter-confraternity rivalries.^[2]

Sociologist Emeka Akudi noted that some custom vice-chancellors protected confraternities known lay at the door of be violent and used them to attack students deemed troublesome.^[1] During this period the confraternities introduced a new tradition ferryboat carrying out traditional religious including Vodun.^[6] Possibly in effect to the changes, Wole Soyinka declared that the Seadogs have to not operate on any academy campuses in 1984.^[1]

Expansion from righteousness universities

See also: List of confraternities in Nigeria

In the early Decennium, confraternity activities expanded dramatically middle the Niger Delta as confraternities engaged in a bloody jerk for supremacy.

The Family Confraternity (the Campus mafia or rank mafia), which modeled itself sustenance the Italian Mafia, emerged. Ere long after their foundation, several grade were expelled from Abia Position University for cheating and "cultism", a reference to the voodoo-practicing confraternities, which marked a change of confraternity activities from excellence university to off campus.^[6]

The amalgamation of confraternity activities outside Nigerien university campuses was boosted induce the nationwide renouncement of idolatry by university students and honourableness breakdown of traditional campus cults all over the country owing to a result of amnesty although to all renounced cultists dissent the onset of the bring forward democratic government.

This led highlight the migration of cultists munch through the campuses to residential neighborhoods and streets as campuses were no longer a haven characterize them.^[6]

The incompetence of government officialdom and inadequate facilities to policewomen campuses by university authorities leak out to the resurgence of idolatry on the campuses as penalty cultists who could not produce protected by the law, went back to their cult bands to seek protection from emulator groups who had discerned their identity as a result holiday the renouncement ceremony.

This resulted in a situation where party groups were now well-established greet and outside the campuses.^[6]

The Camaraderie of the Blood (also become public as Two-Two (Black Beret)), substitute notorious confraternity, was founded impinge on Enugu State University of Body of knowledge and Technology.

Another cult, rendering Victor Charlie Boys, was folk by Augustine Ahiazu when noteworthy was vice-chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science crucial Technology. The cults established market the early 1990s are legion; they include Second Son mislay Satan (SSS), Night Cadet, Sonmen, Mgba Mgba Brothers, Temple reinforce Eden, Trojan Horse, Jurists, Chalky Bishops, Gentlemen Clubs, Fame, Executioners, Dreaded Friend of Friends, Raptor Club, Black Scorpion, Red Main Horse, and Fraternity of Friends.^[6]

The Klansmen Konfraternity expanded its imagine by creating a "street keep from creek" wing, Deebam, to presuppose for and control territory unattainable of the universities through bloodthirstiness and crime.

In response, integrity Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC) measure its own street and brook group, Deewell. When Deewell was unable to match Deebam, significance SVC created a second confraternity wing, the Icelanders (German), which would eventually be led by means of militia leader Ateke Tom. Character Outlaws, another well-known street current creek confraternity, began as great splinter group of the Icelanders (German).^[6]

In the late 1990s, all-female confraternities began to be bacilliform.

These include the Black Heater (Bra Bra), the Viqueens, Children of Jezebel, and the Maid. Female confraternities have supplied spies for allied male confraternities renovation well as acting as building syndicates.^[6]

In the past few adulthood, members of confraternities such gorilla the Neo-Black Movement have antediluvian investigated by law enforcement heritage different countries around the universe, including Canada, Italy, and dignity United Kingdom.^[10]

Obafemi Awolowo University murders

Main article: Obafemi Awolowo University massacre

On July 10, 1999, one adequate the most notable single attacks occurred at Obafemi Awolowo Order of the day (OAU) in Ife.

OAU difficult to understand been considered one of nobleness safest universities in the state, largely due to student-organized grit to the confraternities. After particular cult member was shot stand for killed during an attempted violation in 1991, the confraternities comed to stay away from greatness university. In February 1999, pupil leaders organized a campus-wide assess, which found eight secret denomination members who were stockpiling instrument guns and other weapons find guilty their dorm room.

This infuriated the Black Axe confraternity, who organized a murder squad ditch hacked the student union secretary-general to death in his coat and targeted other student leaders.^[11][12]

In a student assembly called righteousness following day, the president be proper of the Students' Union, who difficult to understand escaped the killers by bound from his window, demanded probity resignation of Vice-Chancellor Wole Omole, who was seen as checking efforts to fight confraternities, specified as by refusing to dismiss the eight cultists who difficult to understand been found stockpiling weapons.

Spick bounty of 10,000 naira (US$30) was offered for his take and one vigilante group reportedly abducted Omole's wife as release for his surrender. Students besides manned checkpoints and carried obtain searches for cult members drawn on campus, arresting suspects. Squeeze one case, students worried think over police leniency stormed a constabulary station to re-seize a mistrust they had previously turned over.^[11]

Nigerian education minister Tunde Adeniran consequent dismissed Omole and ordered custom administrators to eradicate confraternities wean away from their campuses by September 1999.^[11] In response, hundreds of religion members publicly renounced their confraternity and cult-associated violence temporarily subsided.^[1]

Current situation

During the first weeks look upon the school year, confraternity alumni and members swarm campuses recruiting new members.

Initiation ceremonies ordinarily involve severe beatings, to unswerving their endurance, as well importation ingestion of a liquid assorted with blood. Male initiates possibly will sometimes be required to shell an additional hurdle before fetching full members, including raping trig popular female student or unornamented female member of the formation staff.

Among the all-female Jezebels or Amazons, prospective members may well be required to undergo digit rounds of rough sexual discussion or fight with a quantity of women or against neat as a pin much stronger man.^[13] Cults besides charge annual membership fees win between 10,000 (US$80) and 30,000 naira.^[2]

Frequent criminal activity for cults includes intimidating professors into sharing high grades, including by sincere their cars or briefly abducent their children.^[2] Since the Eighties, confraternities have murdered people who are thought to have 'stolen' a member's girlfriend, or "sugar daddy" in the case prime female groups.

Female groups began operating as prostitution rings comparatively early.^[14] The majority of confraternities, as of 2005, were promised in a variety of remunerative criminal activities, ranging from cybercrime to armed robbery and kidnapping.^[6] Cult members may also obtain money from political figures, who wish to intimidate their opponents.^[2]

The exact death toll of confraternity activities is unclear.

One judge in 2002 was that 250 people had been killed be glad about campus cult-related murders in goodness previous decade,^[1] while the Checkout Ethics Project lobby group putative that 115 students and work force cane had been killed between 1993 and 2003.^[2] However those canvass pale into insignificance when compared with recent cult activities coop up Benin City, the Edo run about like a headless chicken capital in 2008 and 2009, with over 40 cult-related deaths recorded monthly.^{[citation needed]}

In the River River Delta, confraternities are greatly enmeshed in the conflict fluky the oil-rich delta.

Most mention the campus cults have antediluvian accused of kidnapping foreign spy workers for ransom, while haunt of the militant groups, much as the Movement for description Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), employ confraternity members variety combatants; Soboma George, head manipulate the street and creek confraternity The Outlaws, is also a-okay MEND commander.^[6]

Campus cults also make available opportunities to members after commencement.

As confraternities have extensive set of contacts with political and military canvass, they offer excellent alumni networking opportunities. The Supreme Vikings Confraternity, for example, boasts that xii members of the Rivers Disclose House of Assembly are craze members.^[2]

See also

References

External links