Breaking News
High Cases of Cultism in Wadata Community, Makurdi, Benue State
As I stood before my students, unable to find the words to teach, I felt a deep sense of urgency. We can’t keep losing our young people to cultism. It’s up to all of us—parents, teachers, leaders, and policymakers—to come together and tackle this problem head-on.
Last night, as I struggled to sleep after taking medicine for a cough, I was startled awake by the sound of gunshots in our Wadata Community in Makurdi. Sadly, these disturbances aren’t uncommon, so instead of investigating, I tried to go back to sleep despite feeling uneasy.
This morning, as I rushed to the Islamiyya where I teach, eager to start the day with my students, I came across a scene that will stay with me for a long time. There, in a pool of blood, lay the body of a young man, no older than twenty, brutally murdered. Bullets had pierced his neck, and his stomach had been cut open with an axe, exposing his intestines to the morning sun.
It was a stark reminder of the grip that cultism has on our community. This young man, like many others, had paid the ultimate price for being involved in these dangerous groups. As I stood there, I couldn’t help but imagine the pain and fear he must have felt in his last moments.
The arrival of police sirens shattered the silence, and we all quickly left the scene. It was later revealed that the victim was a known cultist, targeted and killed by rival factions. It’s a tragic cycle of violence that has taken too many young lives, leaving families devastated and dreams shattered.
It’s tempting to blame parents, society, or the government, but the reality is more complex. Cultism thrives in neglected and indifferent communities, preying on vulnerable young people. It’s a symptom of deeper problems—lack of opportunities, guidance, and protection for our children.
As I stood before my students, unable to find the words to teach, I felt a deep sense of urgency. We can’t keep losing our young people to cultism. It’s up to all of us—parents, teachers, leaders, and policymakers—to come together and tackle this problem head-on.
May we find the wisdom and courage to act decisively, to protect our children’s future, and to heal the wounds caused by senseless violence. Only then can we begin to restore the promise and potential lost to the darkness of cultism.
—Hassan Idris.
idrishassan035@gmail.com.
