Ayodele Fayose has signed a bill proposing death sentence for secret cult members in all tertiary institutions in the state on Monday, November 20.
Suspected student cultists arrested by the police in the Kwara State Polytechnic cult clash (Daily Trust)
On Wednesday, November 1, the news of a bill seeking a death penalty for cultists in Ekiti State University made headlines.
Cultism is a disturbing issue that rarely gets government attention in Nigerian educational higher institutions, but Ekiti State government has taken a bold step to address the scourge.
Every Nigerian University and Polytechnic is dotted with signboards advising students against cultism but no school or state government has ever taken the fight against cultism seriously.
Ekiti State University is one of the institutions where cultism is highly patronized. Frats kill, maim and strike at will in this school.
Indiscriminate killings of undergraduates and fresh graduates in EKSU is a horrible menace that is gradually establishing Ekiti State University in the black book.
Every Nigerian campus is dotted with SAY NO TO CULTISM signboard (Liberalinternational)
The butchering of two students in the latter part of October was the height of the cultists atrocious activities in EKSU.
On Monday, October 23, a student Ojo Segun was attacked by suspected cultists at a Salon, where he worked as a hairstylist.
His death reportedly led to a confrontation between two cult groups, Aiye Confraternity a.k.a ‘Black Axe’ and Eiye Confraternity. One person was killed in the process and his body was abandoned by the roadside.
Barely a week after the attack another student whose name was given as Ayodele Temilade was hacked to death.
The killing of these students prompted the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose to sign a bill proposing death sentence for secret cult members in all tertiary institutions in the state on Monday, November 20.
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose (Vanguard)
This to Ekiti State University community is a relief as many believe the capital punishment prescribed for cultism will discourage youths from engaging in the practice.
However, Nigerian students have shared their views about the measure to control the criminal activities of students cult members. While some agree with the government’s standpoint, others think the punishment is too harsh.
Abirika Lilian, a student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka agreed with Ekiti Government on the eye for an eye maxim.
She said, ‘‘It is understandable as some if not all cultists take lives of other humans like it’s nothing. Since you can’t differentiate between them, a life for a life (lives) is ideal”.
Body of the final year student of Ekiti State University dumped by the roadside. (@iamthatgeorge/Twitter)
Comrade Abubakar Shuaibu Yobe, a unionist in Kaduna State Polytechnic is another student who agrees that death punishment for cultists is not severe as many think.
”It is a good policy and a good law that should be replicated in all school. I don’t think the punishment is too severe because the primary purpose of the students is to go and learn and be useful for themselves and the society.
”Why should any student find cultism attractive? As a good Nigeria student, I think this is a good policy. Some of us in students union always condemn these peoples’ activities on campus and I believe laws like this will discourage students from joining wrong associations in Universities and Polytechnics, Abubakar said.
Police arrest 14 suspected cult members in Lagos (Today)
Supporting Abubakar’s submission, Hafsat Shuwa Maiduguri, a student of the University of Maiduguri said the death penalty is a very good decision so as to avoid lots of cultists around. She added that if the government sticks to the death punishment, students would not join cultism.
While some students think the punishment is ideal, Sodiq Idowu, a final year student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye expressed a different opinion.
”Not all these cult members joined intentionally. Some of them were forced to join the groups. I don’t think it is right to apply death sentence to all cult members. I think they should temper justice with mercy. Some of the people joined these association under duress. When you are being forced to do something at a gunpoint, won’t you rather save your life and do something you will get out from in four years time” Idowu queried.
Corroborating Idowu’s opinion, a student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Chibike Osinem said the government should imprison any student caught engaging in cultism rather than passing death sentence on them.
Suspected cultists arrested with arms in Lagos (Telegraphng.com)
However, from a legal perspective, two Nigerian Law graduates have a different point of views on the matter.
Ifeoma Onuike, a Nigerian best graduating student at the Girne American University in Cyprus disapproved passing death sentence on cult members.
”Death sentence is a capital punishment given when a person commits a serious crime. There are debates on it that government do not have the right to take a human life, what they have as a responsibility is to protect, refrain and fulfil the fundamental human rights of its citizens which includes right to life.
“In this regard, the second optional protocol of the International Convention on Civil and Political Right (ICCPR) abolishes death penalty but Nigeria is still not a party to this protocol which means passing death sentence on a cultist is not against the laws of Nigeria.
“I am of the opinion that Nigeria should abolish the death sentence according to the preamble of the second optional protocol “to contribute to enhancement of human dignity and progressive development of human right”. regardless of the crime committed a person’s right still remains. Crime doesn’t strip away all the entail human rights example right to Life, freedom from torture which is an absolute right. If I may suggest instead of death sentence, life imprisonment.
On the other hand, Oludare Subomi Onokoya, who graduated from Abuja Law School with first class honour said he aligns himself with Ekiti State government position.
”Our criminal code provides for the death penalty to be meted out to anybody convicted of murder. Killing someone with intent. I align myself with this position”.
The law has been passed and it has come to stay in all tertiary institutions in Ekiti State. The Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Professor Samuel Oye Bandele recently reminded of the punitive measures awaiting any student caught engaging in cultism.
daybreakonline.news.blog 