BENIN CITY – As cultism, a phenomenon fast eating deep into the social fabrics of the society continue to persist, there are strong indications that the menace which has brought many people into severe bondage and untold hardship will further plunder many of our youths into miserable lives as many of them are being initiated into the nocturnal groups by their kinsmen and even their parents.

Investigations reveal that, in the last couple of weeks, some youths have been incarcerated in their covens by the leadership of the various cult groups while the houses of other who are now on the run, apparently to save their dear lives have been burnt down by these cult groups for one reason or the other.

 
Only recently there was pandemonium at the residence of one Gerald Osaremwen Thadius, when a cult group name, the Ogboni Confraternity invaded the residence of Gerald to inform him of his duty to perform the normal initiation rites following the death of his father, late Mr. Thadius Enowas.

 
Our source also gathered that, the late Thadius Enowas who was an iledi, a special title within the cult group was also a powerful witchdoctor who was feared by all in the community.

 
Trouble started when Gerald Osaremwen Thadius blatantly refused the request from the cult group due to his strong Christian faith.

 
Following this development, Gerald was said to have escaped to avoid being forced into the group. Family sources said that at the lying in state of the late Thadius Enowas, the cult group cut off his penis and two ears in what sources say is their routine when a member dies.

According to a source close to the family, the Ogboni confraternity set Gerald's family house ablaze when they could not find Gerald to perform the necessary rite and to take his father’s position in the cult group.

  Meanwhile, as the whereabout of Gerald Osaremwen Thadius is unknown. The cult group is still on his trail as they believed that the late father must have passed some of his powers to him.