 All right, thanks for staying with us now sociologically classifications of religious movement may identify cult as a social group with socially deviant or novel beliefs and practices and investigations have shown that there are thousands of cults around the world while some cults are relatively Begnine others are dangerous and Destructive it is important to note that some people may choose to join a cult because they believe in his teachings or Because they enjoy the sense of Community and protection that it offers. However, confessions have revealed that most members Joined forcefully on cultism has taken and continues to take millions of lives Across Nigeria. So today we're asking why is cultism on the rise now, please? Yeah, let's hear what you have to remember You can join the conversation send us an SMS or what's up to the rate one eight zero three four six six three Our phone line is now open the number to call is zero seven zero two five zero zero seven seven four nine That's the number to call remember when you call share your story with us And please turn off the volume of whatever device it is that you're watching us from all right, so I mean like As I was saying before went on a break the conversation around more, but it's really why it is also like just kind of like We're just moving into the conversation around cultism because yesterday when I saw that video I was telling you the other kids sons. You were here yesterday that it seemed like a movie scene to me Honestly speaking, I didn't know because normally I don't look at dead bodies I don't look at all of those things those things are really scary for me because I can't see it now And I'll be seeing the person in my dream. So I saw the videos and I saw a pool of blood and everything So in my head, I was thinking maybe the movie scene very soon because the camera was panning like that So I thought okay very soon. Maybe I'll see the cameras and all of that or more. I realized that it was not a movie scene That was when I now turn the way because I started seeing like people being the market been room had removed Somebody's dead bodies. They were young people on the floor older people in shagamu yesterday So and when the police person comes out to say that You know almost everybody You understand every young person is a cultist. I'm not wondering why exactly this is this happening So when I was going to school when I was growing going to the university The scare was that oh the universe because I went to Delta State University. Oh, it was and Delta State University apart from Delta State University was one of the notorious places for cultism So, but I think it was so this this season that I entered Delta State University was the season that I think some major things Had happened that forced the government to step in and so my season was the calm season So there was no call but even when I was going to school They were they were advised that oh no when you go into the university your life has to be very defined So I had a triangle. I'll go to school. I'll go to church and I'll go back home My life did not pass that triangle So you see that you see me in church or you see me in the lecture hall or you see me in school I never attended any parties. I never did any of such because you know the the what I was told was that if If you start to attend some of all the social graduands and cultists see you there, you know They'll likely believe that okay So and if they find out that you're not in any call that's when they truly start to disturb you to join So court is in was something that it was a choice It was something that okay, you know, you won't be fine boy I mean we had some other people that they looked really fly You know the cause that they belong to some people that were very fish if vicious you knew the code They were belong. I mean when a show in car is the patriot of Cultism so literally and in fact they were caught in the past that you needed to be of a certain Intellectual capacity like your first of all your grades must be in the level of the the two ones before you can Even join those calls. Yeah, but now You're going to Mostly called the streets and you start to you know when these are just things that are happening I used to think maybe you know because it did not still resonate In my head Cultism starts and ends in school like university Jonas and that is what was in my head You will start your if you want to join court you join court in university and you ended there But now it's gone beyond universities. They are on the streets. They're everywhere. They're recruiting primary school students Do you understand? So I'm not wondering why exactly do we have this on the rise? Is it because of the state of our economy? You understand is it the state of what exactly is the is the attraction? What is the promise that has been handed over to these guys that make them want to you understand just From a very young age start to be involved in some of these activities, you know I don't know who's gonna go for some I mean it's Community, you know that sense of belonging if especially from grassroots, you know demography If you were born on the street, or you probably come from a home where your mom doesn't care Your dad doesn't care and then you find some Neighborhood bros, you know who takes an interest in you He gives you money in food. He gives you afternoon food tomorrow You're looking forward to seeing him and then next tomorrow. He just says look at you really smart boy Don't you know that you can do this? I'm here for you. Do you understand? That's how it starts So there's that sense of belonging then there's there's the sense of protection like oh, okay If anything happens to me, I have someone who can protection for one of our friends No, but I mean just attack me like that. No, but that's you thinking like that because you probably have never been in that situation Let's look at the flip side of it. You you you've probably had a Sheltered life you come from a place of love look at people who don't have that The slightest attention anybody gives them especially for young people everybody desires that Desires to be seen Exactly, so if you take an interest in a child and all that that child does not know Well, in fact the child would naturally assume that what you're doing is even right and Would by default to make you their role model Now you graduate from primary from secondary and then you're going to crime When you do crime the first time the second time you have protection Nobody is arresting you it gives you confidence and it gives you power You enable you to do more and then you're going to the university system and it's the same way and don't forget we all I like to say that Nigerians only complain about oppression when they are not the ones are present So when you go into the university system, you know that you can chance a body boy I say come on bring your money. Hey you every morning be bringing XYZ to me You have already that that part you don't want to relinquish that kind of power Hmm, and that's that's it and this idea of old cultism engines. It doesn't end in school You come out of the system you you you almost can't leave courtesan You can't because now their structure is such that Even in corporate world or politics Politics there's a place for you and in Nigeria, we know that a lot of things are not by merit So if there is a clear path for you It is probably you and I because maybe we were fortunate not to have experienced that That were able to say ah, but that's such a terrible life for people who don't know otherwise So for me, I would say Well, there is that and then there is also the scouting system I went to Navdia's great university as at the time that I went to school Cultism was kind of on the ground and so the government the vice chancellor at the time had instituted this anti-cult people that their job was just to be on the lookout for you know cultists trying to raise their head So it was a relatively calm period However, we were surrounded Navdia's university was surrounded by schools Other campuses and I was a university and just other schools They were trying to like set up ensure that a branch Existed exactly, you know, and I remember there was this guy that he's one of my good friends And he's like really good-looking, you know these people that everybody wants you in their court, you know He's intelligent. He's good-looking. He's a magnet for girls and well from his courage He looks pretty much like he comes from an influential home So I remember that there were people who were going after this guy. He didn't do anything So they were like they were like two or three of them they were going after him You know, so at the end of the day, which one are you going to settle for if you settle for this one is why I like We settle for this one. So at the end of the day, he was like, okay I'm tired of all these threats and what now let me just settle for one and eventually when he settled for one It was an issue again last night. He had to leave school You understand and this was in a society that cultism wasn't even that big. It was just On the ground. Do you understand? So there is that scouting system and it's kind of like a way of of Replenishing, you know, people are passing out the other time that cultism was meant to be just for school You know, for that period it was a scouting system But now that cultism has gone beyond school and I don't think it's just in Nigeria Right. No, no, it's not. There is like the america university Alphas and yes, no, and they have this they call them Seruaries And I know a couple people who belong at least to the alphas, right And so the way they are structured is such that it's a brotherhood If you're ever in in trouble, you just need to say, oh, this is it. This is our mantra This is who mentored me and this and they are there to your rescue. It's not like a violent thing or so So I don't know if in our case. I mean, I believe that when uh, Well, sure. Inka them started it in 1952 They had like the best intentions to checkmate law and order and university authorities and which was a beautiful thing But again makes any good intention with poverty and lack of literacy and you get disaster That's that's the word. I think that's what happened Poverty and in fact Poverty and illiteracy Disaster your spot. Oh, Jennifer. Let me hear your thoughts. So I'll take you from the angle of Most or some court members or some people who decide to join gangs a bully They try of Watching other people suffer and then you also have the aspect of greed Right. You have people who feel like I can take what you have Right. I want to subdue you Right. I want to put you in such a state where I feel like I am superior than you Right. So you have some people like that who are people who crave To join courts. They were not scouted They were loved at home too But you see that that power To just make other people yeah make other people feel less than that is what They go for that's what they need, right? I can bring out a knife. I can bring out a gun I can call my boys and we'll beat you up and there's nothing you can do, right? You're a guy like me if you have a girl I can take her or you have money or a car I can collect your car and there's nothing you can do about it, right? We're seeing things like that in school, which I feel like Even outside of uni In the adult world that we're living in our society These are the things that are sort of progressive Do you understand? I mean Going back to the mubad situation, right? I watched a particular video where a guy was Narating some of the things that some of these young men who wanted to go into the music industry had to undergo Right, some of them had money of their own But some of these people had to collect That money and that's because they wanted to subdue them. They wanted a situation where You have no other choice to look up to them, right? You have to go to them for everything that you need and then you have people who are just greedy Now if you look at some of these gangs Maybe some are impoverished Some probably have money based on what they stolen from other people and some people feel like You know what? I don't want to work. I don't want to work for my money Why should I work for my money when it can be given to me or when I can collect it From somebody else, right in situations like that That's when you see people going into cults and those ones are championing it because they are out to steal Okay, so I like where everyone has come from I want to just draw something to our attention and I think somehow everybody touched on it You know, there's a community where it seems like anything you want. We're here for you. We got your back Because now it seems that you can't be successful to some extent In some of these industries without having to be part of an identification I mean today. I had a very extensive conversation with my my staff in the office on Monday. That's yesterday And they kept on and on and on about colors according to see me Like black as my like you understand what I'm saying like literally you have just messed up The idea of colors in my head because I literally I am a fan You understand if you check my wardrobe 80 percent of my outfit you understand But now you're not seeing that this particular color is attached to this this particular color. So but you see some of these identifications People would gladly flag those colors because they believe that these people Like a brotherhood is like a you know a sisterhood or whatever. They've got my back, right? So If that is the situation and it seems that these people are the ones gaining the ground Who are the people that are providing alternative solutions for every other person? That is not interested in joining a cult and just want to make life and want to blow make a living Who are the people that are joining some because now to my To my surprise You hear that even religious leaders belong to some of these What's it called organization these cults and all of that? So where is now the place To shield people because we all cannot all be inside a cult. Yeah, literally I mean, there has to be a balance if all of us did here who called the fight We need to fight some I have to be a balance and this is what I say with education Right when you make the entertainment industry for instance so attractive so juicy and you're neglecting the educational sector Making it look less attractive and all of that. You're giving young people automatic choice That this is where the attraction is. This is where the money is So many people do not want to go to where schools are or whatever They don't want to see anything for us of the school because now they've seen that this is the direction This is where I can succeed Same thing with autism because now I've even heard that even there are some shows Right that, you know, they only call their members. They also like literally is a community Anything I want to do in terms of business and whatever whatever I do it within that community So who are the people that have raised them? Alternatives of people people that said, okay, you know what I'm not interested in Power I'm not because I've never heard this. I've never fought anybody in my life Like even on the streets. So I'm the longest person. Do you understand what I'm saying? Like to this there's nothing that would be attractive for me Do you understand? If it is fame If it is, you know, you want to become like you want to become a massive celebrity and all of that All those things I believe your time will come Because we cannot all all be inside that Pool for us to all succeed. Some people it just that it's going to be slow because there's that element of I want it And I want it now that makes most young people falling victims of these things I get the part of forceful forceful what's it called forceful Initiations right where they kidnap because I've heard so many gory stories about kidnapping People and taking them to go to a secret location and forcefully was called initiating them That one is there But the one that I will use my two legs and walking through it and say, please I want to be part of because Now that is what is even more Because of the way it is attractive. So how do we find solutions? Do you understand to make it less lucrative less attractive so that at least we have a balance in the society Because if a policeman is telling me every young person is in a court, what do you want to remain? so um again greed Now let me break it down I feel like there are typical platforms right your everyday life where you don't have to be attached to that life Now we we've taken out the fact where some people were forced Into it right So let's put that aside. Let's talk about the everyday man who isn't forced into that life You have the option to choose. But the problem is you want to get rich quick You want to be very famous The truth is if you're very content with where you are Even as as an artist or you're going to the entertainment industry if you're very content with where you are There are some things that will not faze you Right, there are some Offers that would offer is Again imagine you go in and ask is you're not called for any shows You're not called for anything because I mean promoters are not promoting you I guess it Is forced to live in a simple life and being content It's not the sweetest thing But that's the safest option Do you understand it's like somebody puts 100k and 10 million and say if you take this 10 million you're going to But you need to you need to you you need to do some certain things you need to do bad things You need to do all of these things You have chosen that way right you have the option again When you talk about living the simple life you we've we've heard people who say I don't want too much the fact that I can feed And clothes myself. I'm okay with it. Now, you know Those kind of people right they're the rarest people Why because there is no amount of temptation you want to bring their way There's nothing you want to give to them that they will fall into Do you understand greed? And wanting more we aspire For more right even the The devil feeds on that. Yes, because they can smell it. He can he he knows. Yeah that this person I see the hunger When you talk about temptation now, let me just go a little bit biblical When the tempted Jesus right when the devil started he started very small And then he made it really big It was in that moment that I'm sure Jesus was there What am I entertaining you don't know where they talk. Yes, come on Shift do you understand and that's how we start it starts as a seed From that little seed it starts to grow But when you have a spirit of contentment That no matter what when you make a decision you're like, you know what this is where I want the truth is Not everybody will be rich And that's the honest truth But the thing is we we pray and hope and keep working hard that things Are well an idea that anybody can bring right and that's the problem So the thing is when you are content and you know who you are and you know exactly what you want When you see some things being flashy, who are you know now? There's some times when we go on instagram and we see some Ladies and men flashing some kind of cars and stuff. There's some things that don't phase us Right because we already know the life. We already know This is not the life that I want right, but if your eyes they choke You want to know, okay And you know where the challenge is You know where the challenge is the challenge is people want to enter that pool And determine how the trajectory will go. They want to determine how their own path to go Oh, I can be in this most comfortable. Yeah, it's like saying I'm wearing whites If I enter these pits My whites will not get stained but like even if he gets stained only these parts Will get stained and they'll see the whites here, but that's not how it works Right these people are going to tempt you and that's the world at large abroad or anywhere you want to go to The entire world that is how it works And when elements came out to say oh we can go to mass we can do this we can do that You saw people buying into it, right when they did that submarine thing People took their hard-earned money I say, you know what? I want to go and see that. What would push you? What would push you to go and see Titanic to go deep down into the sea And nobody has gone down that deep. There is no life there Is this only people that can live there Do you know that even in the sea right it's not it's not every level of the sea that some fishes can go Some fishes will go there and they will die the same way you have birds Not all level of yes, very high and some birds will stay here if they try They will die. Don't drop dead. Do you understand? I feel like We we don't know your place. The truth is just hope for the best and with God on your side Things will work out Things will definitely work out I also want to say that as a people we need to Change the narrative We need for us to do better. We need to have a better value system A lot of people have a lot of young people or even millennials so to say they found themselves in situations because People that they love have certain expectations of them And when you feel like you're in a tight sport and you can't afford to disappoint the people depending on you You you you start to you know Find a way and then you know you you begin to call why it's gray Some people really do not want to be in those situations Some people are trying to seek justice. I've had situations of people who found themselves in Cultism because somebody wronged them. I know the lady who I mean she had issues with this lecture He was like haunting her And the only place she she tried to get the police involved her parents came to university Nothing happened until she ran into she met this guy who was the dawn of the cult And the guy took an interest in her and she and that was the end of our wallah And by virtue of that she started a female version of the cult Can you see I mean one decision one injustice one So we we must sit down. I think as a nation We must redefine Whatever why people of culture But we keep saying oh, we're so westernized. We're so we're so evolved But our involvement is leading to a path of destruction We're saying oh, we want to raise We want to raise empowered kids But what we are raising are kids that have no idea about the consequences of their actions I mean you both have just made like amazing points that you talked about contentment and just being okay with late gratification. And I think that's Amazing because I completely agree with that and then you talked about how injustice can just lead you into Taking the wrong decision. But because you want to feel Protected. So this is something that I have experienced both of it, you know, and I I I I'm kind of at that place in life where I constantly find myself In that place of Okay, I should be contented. But I know that I need to do this. I know that my family is to do this and so Where is this naturally? There is nobody that knows me that does not know I have like a natural disgust for people who just you know married men going after Young ladies just because you see that they have financial needs. I want to pray on that I have and I'm very deliberate with my what I have a natural hatred and disgust for that Because I'm like if you want to help people if you see somebody worth investing in go ahead and invest someone Go ahead and invest in that person. Everything does not need to be about sex Some people will give you beyond sex some people will give you a place in the history of their lives And you never know where an upcoming life is headed. You've made it now. You have your 200 million in the bank And you're happy that person you are investing maybe just that 500,000 to start up something that you're asking for sex Eventually, if you do that for good, she might end up being I don't know, someone larger than life, you know, and it may not be you who earns it Maybe your child that wakes up the person gets and says, you know what your father did this and as long as I am Alive nothing what but people don't see through that and so I would want to encourage people delayed ratification is real I'm someone who like I'm constantly presented with that and I've experienced injustice a lot of times such that You're in a place where you know, this is wrong and you want someone to speak up for you and you Self you don't have enough power to speak up for yourself. So what do you do? Like there have been times when people would say, okay, you can do this You can do this this person can do speak up for you and so and I look at myself and I'm like, okay You can speak up for me. But what is the cost of that? And so when I look at the cost of it and I'm like, no, but this is you can do this and I feel like relief right now I feel like I don't get you. But is that what I want to make? Okay, so good evening my dear beautiful sisters of what are you saying hashtag ways Why is cultism on the rise my dear beautiful sister who has said it all She said that cultism is a game of choice and I agree your character on campus Will determine if cultists will approach you to join them If you know yourself very well and know what you are on campus for There is no way you can have that urge to join a cult My dear beautiful sister Jennifer said that generally cultism is a way to show superiority People look for an opportunity to take charge of their fellow human beings and control them You ladies look beautiful tonight. My name is Daniel So this conversation, right? It's going to continue Because sadly whether we like it or not cultism is dwelling amongst us. They are in corporate organizations then government organizations Then security agencies like different parastata. They have top people in there and it was never meant To be a thing of violence and killing, you know the intention Well, I loved what Zanzi said about add, you know, good intentions plus illiteracy and plus poverty It is equal to disaster. I think it's a fantastic way You know to wrap up the conversation for tonight So if we really want to solve the problem of cultism on the rise Let's start to find a way to educate our children better Better education and let's try to alleviate poverty in its sense not just on paper Not just saying oh, it's an sdg go So we must know let us really in its sense start to empower young people so that they can be financially Independent once there is financial independence It's very difficult for you to get that person to say they want to go and join some kind of thing Yeah, thank you so much ladies. I think we did amazing justice to the conversation Hopefully we'll be able to bring it more and more as the year continues to go Now before we go follow us across all our social media handles At ways you have to interact with us further drop a comment and most importantly Follow all our engagement of social media likes and invite your families and friends to watch and follow the conversation If you've missed our quote for today, here it is again. The only difference between a cult and a religion Is the amount of real estate They own And I'm sure you know who owns what I like this I like this Some people they want to do the outside beach But some people not not build it. We'll see you guys tomorrow at 8 p.m So bring another great conversation to you