CULTISM AND INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE IN SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN RIVERS STATE
Abstract
Cultism and cult rivalry have been ravaging several communities in Rivers State, leading to the victimization of several persons including police personnel, innocent civilians and cult members. The study examined the nexus between cultism and internal displacement of people in selected communities in Rivers State. In order to provide answer to the problem of study, two research questions were raised. Similarly, the research was anchored on the theory of national responsibility and anomie. The study adopted a qualitative research design and the content analysis method was used to analyse the secondary data obtained. The study found that cultism was a major cause of internal displacement of people in Rivers State. It concluded that the breakdown of norms that regulate people’s behaviour, and the inability of the law enforcement agencies to proactively detect, arrest and prosecute gang members was responsible for the prevalence of cult violence in local communities in Rivers State. The study, therefore, recommended that the government should support the efforts of local vigilantes to combat cultism in rural areas. These local vigilantes should also act as informants to the police to identify both sponsors and perpetrators of cult violence. It also recommended a synergy between the government and non-governmental organizations in the rehabilitation of those affected by cult violence that may have sort shelters in other places outside their communities
Keywords:
Cultism, violence, cult rivalry, internal displacementDownloads
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References
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