A security expert, Mr Seyi Babaeko, has said that the rise in teenagers’ involvement in cult activities is a major security threat to Nigeria’s future.
Babaeko, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Absolute Security and Advance Protocol Ltd, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to him, the increasing involvement of teenagers in cultism is a serious issue that needed urgent attention.
“This trend poses a direct threat to the safety and security of the nation and it endangers the future of our youth.
“The teens have allowed themselves to become figures of manipulation by peers and louts in the society.
“It was critical to recognise that joining a cult is a harmful choice that leads to negative consequences for individuals and communities alike, ” he said.
Babaeko said that one of the contributors to the rise in cultism was the decline in moral values within society.
The expert cited decline in moral values within society as one of the contributors to the rise in the unholy gangs.
He said that many young people who have been arrested for their involvement in cultism provide various reasons for their actions.
“These reasons include peer pressure, the influence of their social environment, inadequate parental supervision, and the lack of educational opportunities.
“In communities plagued by poverty, limited opportunities, high crime rates, young people may turn to cultism as a means of gaining power or financial support.
“While these factors may provide context for their choices, they do not justify the decision to engage in such groups, ” he said.
According to him, many parents are preoccupied with their work and do not actively engage with their children’s daily activities.
“This lack of involvement creates a gap that allows harmful influences to take root, ” he said.
He said that the declining standards of public education left many students without the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
“A lack of engaging and meaningful educational experiences can lead to boredom and restlessness which often results in teenagers seeking excitement and belonging in destructive ways, ” he said.
Babaeko called for concerted efforts to fight the vices to save Nigerian children, who are leaders of tomorrow, from destruction.
“The government should create a safer environment where youth can thrive, create job training, employment initiatives and also launch nationwide campaigns to educate the teens about the dangers of cultism.
“It should also review and enforce stricter anti-cultism law.
“Police should build trust with the communities to encourage reporting of cult activities and other crimes.
“Parents should prioritise monitoring their children’s interactions and the media they consume, guiding them toward positive values and behaviors.
“Schools must revise curricula to include life skills, moral education, awareness of cultism, its consequences and also invest in improving facilities and resources to create environments that foster learning and personal growth.
“Religious leaders and other stakeholders should mentor the youth, sharing their wisdom and encouraging them to make constructive life choices so as to discourage them from belonging to a cult, ” he said.
According to him, there is a need to acknowledge the gap between current leaders and the youth who will inherit our future.
“When young people feel disconnected from their leaders, they may search for identity and belonging in unhealthy groups, ” he said.