“O na di mma i nwe ofu onye isi okpukpu na family”…

It is this recalcitrant rhetoric that forms the foundation for the misconstruing of firm, decisive strong willed personality with violent, blood-thirsty and debased individuals. People can be strong willed and capable of lawful action without necessarily being violent and destructive.

I say this because we must stop excusing basic deviance as “natural isi okpukpu” (stubbornness), as this has proven to be the most potent foundation for crafting innocent, malleable young people into violent actions, including cultism.

If a child is violently stubborn, identify and route it out immediately, helping the child to build a strong personality that understands the difference between good and evil. Communities also need to isolate this sort of devious behaviour and teach strong men to be morally upright too. Before you encourage “isi okpukpu” build the “uburu/uvuru” first. This is the only way we can build real humans and not monsters who take to cultism to satisfy evil cravings!

Say no to cultism! May the dead find rest with God.

— Mazi Ejimofor Opara writes from Awka, Anambra State