Campus Cult Violence Claims 115 Lives

ThisDayNews/September 4, 2003
By Omon-Julius Onabu

Benin-City -- At least 115 students in various educational institutions in the country lost their lives to violent cult-related activities in the last decade.

During the same period, that is, between 1993 and June this year, the institutions meted severe disciplinary action out to 665 students for their involvement in cult activities. These startling statistics are contained in the current edition of Exam Ethics, a newsletter published by Mr Ike Onyechere, who is the executive chairman, Exami-nation Ethics Project, EEP.

The publication revealed that the dead included students killed in different rival cult wars witnessed during the period in the campuses while others including lecturers were innocent victims of violent cult activities. A total of 536 students were expelled by the institutions authorities and another 129 students suspended for various lengths of time for the same reason.

Speaking with newsmen during the Examination Ethics Workshop for Edo State Secondary School Heads in Benin, Onyechere said that all hope was not lost on the twin-evil of cultism and examination malpractices in our schools.

As indicated in the publication, thousands of students had, during the period under review, openly renounced their membership of secret cults, while anti-cult campaigns were taking place nationwide.