By Anthony Adgidgi & Mariam Ekom

A total of 22 students including three females with the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, have renounced cultism.

The students who marched soberly to the podium last week in the campus to indicate their interest in not participating or continuing with cult activities both within and outside the campus, confessed that they had earlier planned to disrupt a sensitization workshop held at the 1000-seat auditorium organised by staff and students welfare committee of the institution.

Nigerian Newsday gathered that the ex-cultist also extended an invitation to their fellow cult members in other institutions to join force against the organizers of the event.

Students present at the occasion called on the management of the institution to grand pardon to student that had already been arrested for their involvement in cultism.

However, the cultists were prevented from speaking or giving their data to newsmen until they were taken for rehabilitation.

Speaking to Nigerian Newsday shortly after the event, the Executive Director, Campus Cult Eradication Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Jos, MR. Kunle Olushade said the organization was planning to organizes a programe in the institution titled: "Cultism", an event, which he hoped would afford more students the opportunity to denounce their membership.

Mr. Olushode said in tackling problem, it is important to identify the factors responsible adding "for those who came out openly to surrender themselves, it is a clear testimony that cultism can be eradicated in Nigerian campuses."

He pointed out that cultic organizations such as Daughters of Jezebel, Black Stars, Queen of the Night, among others were common in universities.

Mr. Olushade who highlighted some of the activities of the foundation said one of the primary focus of the NGO was to reform and rehabilitate cult members in Nigerian universities. campuses that the organization operates in the University of Calabar, University of Ilorin, University of Agriculture Makurdi, while it has over 400 field members across the country’s universities.

He said in order to eradicate cultism, universities managements, lecturers, parents and other stakeholders in education needed to be involved.