Army barracks: A cesspool for cult members?

• as three declared wanted in Ojo Cantonment

By OKOSUN DENNIS

Over the years, Nigerian Army is known for its strictness and discipline. Every aspect of soldier’s life is characterised by rigid regimentation; things are done swiftly with despatch while orders obeyed with alacrity.

No dull moment associated with military’s modus operandi. Moreover, there were no room for undisciplined behaviour on both the soldiers and officers, who are imbued with tough training and professionally conscious to the core.

In the same manner, their children who are brought up under their tutelage are said to imbibe such disciplined culture their parents are known for.

Therefore, every act of indiscipline was frowned at within the circumference of the barracks. Such discipline and strictness mark them out and has been extended to schools ran by the military hence most civilian populace prefer – in most case – to send their children to military schools to have a slice of such cultured behaviour.

Sadly, recently, things seem to be nose-diving as such reverend discipline that was a common place in the barracks is cracking, giving room to all manner of uncultured and nocturnal behaviours and insipid malfeasances by some barracks children.

To say the least, for anybody to conceive the idea that a barrack boy would engage in clandestine nocturnal association that will bring the image of his parents to disrepute or being exposed to military discipline or penalty, was unheard of or jettisoned like a plague.

Cult infiltrates barracks

Recently, barracks is becoming a cesspool for all shapes and manners of cult related offences. Some personnel children, who were, at a time or the other, graduated from universities and were members of a cult group, are selling the evil theology into the lives of innocent children in the barracks.

As a result, military authorities in some army barracks in Lagos have stepped up efforts to arrest the situation from degenerating into a catastrophe.

Some of the evicted cultist from Ikeja Cantonment

At the Ikeja Cantonment, several suspected cult members were arrested recently by 9 Brigade Nigerian Army, subjected to scrutiny and after diligent investigation, 14 cult members were found guilty and ejected from the barracks.

Although some residents of the barracks kicked against it, a military source told National Daily, that their age not withstanding; was not enough to legalise illegality in the barracks. He cautioned those complaining to watch it because if proactive steps are not taken as it has, it can gravitate into a catastrophe of huge proportion that might be difficult for the military authority to handle if allowed growing out of proportion.

Another source disclosed to National Daily that even though some people frowned at the decision of the Commander, 9 Brigade, Brig Gen Elias Attu, ejecting them out of the barracks, “I think the commander took the best decision in this circumstances considering that if the development is not arrested with the strictest form, we would have a tremendous problem to tackle in the future.

People banned and declared wanted at Ojo Cantonment

“Personally, I have no qualms with the decision of the commander to send them out of the barracks. Whether they are adults or minor, the fact is that why would a minor thought of joining a secret cult in the first place? Nobody compelled them to join and they should also swallow the bitter pills without blaming anybody,” the source reiterated.

National Daily gathered that at the Ikeja Cantonment, 14 people that have been identified and ejected with some of them military children were four female and 10 male.

According to a published poster displayed at the cantonment main gate and other strategic places within the barracks, the female included: Aliyu Umi; Tonia Eval; Hannatu Duniya and Evelyn Emmanuel while the males were Emmanuel Odumu; Edor Iyanya; Moses Igasim; Eno Michael; Godwin Atim; Ogundipe Ayodele; Bobby Nuel Chidi; Julius Bayo; Murice Ofiong and Musa Bamisa.

A soldier who spoke anonymously with our reporter at the Cantonment also supported the move to evict identified suspects from the barracks before they become endemic agents that would corrupt other children.

He frowned at a situation whereby such questionable individuals are allowed continued to live in the barracks; noting that they would negatively influence innocent children that might graduate and be lured into becoming armed robbers, kidnappers and rapist in the future.

A confessed cult member at Ojo Cantonment

“I support the Commander and the officers for taking such a bold step to eject them. From what I learnt majority of them are personnel relatives. However, whether they are officers and soldier’s children or they sell at the Mammy market, the fact remains that they should be showed the way out of the barracks. We bring up responsible children here not thugs, touts and cult members.

“This kind of approach seemed the best in this circumstance. I would even suggest that their parents should be punished for allowing their wards to join cult outside and import it into the barracks,” he added.

Ojo Cantonment involvement

Being the biggest barracks in Africa, Ojo military cantonment is not insulated. With avalanche of people that flood the barracks for commerce and business, no doubt, cultism has penetrated the barracks despite stringent security measures.

While three people have been declared wanted for cult related offences, some that have been identified were arrested, tried and banned from the barracks while their names, pictures and block of residence were posted on notice board in strategic locations within the barracks.

National Daily learnt that those declared wanted included Mr Yimide Eniola Oreofe; Mr Friday Daniel Joseph and Mr Moses Ibrahim Saidu.

A poster pasted at the Ojo Cantonment gate read: “Wanted Person: The above named person of Block 2 Flat 1, Nigerian Army Account Inspectorate Quarters, who is presently at large is wanted in connection with a case under investigation. If seen, please contact 81 Division Provost Company, Nigerian Army Cantonment, Ojo.”

Eight others were banned after been found to have been involved in cult related offences in the barracks. In a bold chest signboard on the wanted persons, read: “I am a cultist. I am banned from NA Cantonment, Ojo.”

A civilian who works in one of the military formation, who spoke to our reporter at the Cantonment expressed disappointment with the way some barracks children have condescended in recent times. “They are lucky to have a very lenient Commander. If it were to be the former commander, he will not spare the parents of those found to be involved.”

When contacted, the spokesperson of 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Lt Col Olaolu Dauda, referred our reporter to the spokesperson of the 9 Brigdade, Major Sydney Mbaneme but could not reach him.

Meanwhile, the authorities of both barracks have instructed members of the public to watch out for any of those ejected or declared wanted to report them to 81 Division, Military Police if seen within the circumference of the barracks.