Community stability in the face of cultrelated crimes in rural areas of South South, Nigeria
Keywords:
Cult-related crimes, Community stability, Youth involvement, Rural communitiesAbstract
Cult-related crimes have become a growing threat to community stability in rural areas of South South, Nigeria, where weak security structures, youth unemployment, and socio-economic deprivation heighten vulnerability to violence. This study examined the influence of cult-related crimes on community stability in rural communities of South South, Nigeria, with specific focus on the frequency of cult-related crimes and youth involvement in cult activities. Guided by the Social Disorganization Theory and Routine Activity Theory, the study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design. Data were collected from 372 respondents drawn from selected rural communities in Cross River, Rivers, and Edo States using structured questionnaires and Key Informant Interview Guides. Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses, including regression and correlation techniques, were employed using SPSS software. Findings revealed that the frequency of cult-related crimes has a statistically significant negative effect on community stability, accounting for 11% of the variance in stability outcomes. Similarly, youth involvement in cult activities was found to significantly influence community stability, explaining 8.4% of the variation in community stability. The study concludes that cult-related crimes and youth participation in cultism undermine social cohesion, economic activities, and peaceful coexistence in rural communities. It recommends strengthened rural security interventions, youth-focused empowerment programs, and community-based preventive strategies to curb cultism and restore stability in rural South South, Nigeria.Downloads
References
1. Adaki, A. Y. (2023). The Role of Westernization in the Changing African Family Structures: A Systematic Literature Review. Human Society and Community, 1(1), 61–75. DOI:10.31098/hsc.v1i1.XXXX.
2. Adebayo, A. A. (2018). Cultism, violence and community insecurity in Nigeria. International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research, 6(3), 112–121.
3. Adedeji, A. O. (2022). Proliferation of Cultism in Nigerian Tertiary Institution: A Threat to National Socio-Economic Development. Journal of Psychology and Political Science (JPPS), 2(05), 25–38. [https://doi.org/10.55529/jpps.25.25.38](https://doi.org/10.55529/jpps.25.25.38)
4. Adeniyi, E. K., Eneji, R. I., & Okpa, J. T. (2019). Unemployment and Drug Trafficking Among Suspects in Custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Cross River State Command, Nigeria. European Scientific Journal, 15(19), 191–202. [https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2019.v15n19p191](https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2019.v15n19p191)
5. Ajayi, H. U. (2015). Cultism in Nigeria University and academic performance. Journal of Modern Studies, 7(2), 29–34.
6. Alemika, E. E. O. (2013). Organized crime and violence in Nigeria. African Journal of Criminology and Justice Studies, 7(1), 1–20.
7. Alumona, I. M., & Amusan, L. (2019). Youth Cultism, Crime and Lethal Violence in Nigerian Cities. African Renaissance, 16(2), 11–29. [https://doi.org/10.31920/2516-5305/2019/v16n2a1](https://doi.org/10.31920/2516-5305/2019/v16n2a1)
8. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
9. Gbenemene, K., & Alade-Williams, T. (n.d.). Cult related violence and economic development in Ogoni land, Rivers State. Advance Journal of Education and Social Sciences.
10. Mboto, A., & Ikponmwosa, I. O. (2025). Addressing cultism to strengthen maritime security in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The American Journal of Political Science Law and Criminology, 7(05), 147–157. [https://doi.org/10.37547/tajpslc/Volume07Issue05-17](https://doi.org/10.37547/tajpslc/Volume07Issue05-17)
11. Nwaogu, N. R., Weli, V. E., & Mbee, M. D. (2020). Evaluation of youth vulnerability to community cultism in selected states in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports, 7(4), 1–14. [https://doi.org/10.9734/ajarr/2019/v7i430187](https://doi.org/10.9734/ajarr/2019/v7i430187)
12. Odesanmi, A. F., Olusegun, I. D., Ebenezer, K. O., Egbo, K., & Babatunde, S. (2024). Sociocultural perspective of cultism in Nigeria: A social vice of individuals and societies. International Journal of Criminology and Security Studies, 3(1).
13. Ogar, L. (2020). Socio-demographic factors and youth participation in community development programmes in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, Nigeria. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 10(24), 41.
14. Okolie, A. M., & Uhembe, M. C. (2014). Youth restiveness and cult-related violence in Nigeria. Journal of Social Sciences and Public Policy, 6(2), 56–69.
15. Okwori, P. B., Obafemi, A., Asomaku, S. O., & Elekwachi, W. (2022). Risk assessment and the impacts of cultism crisis in selected communities in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Archives of Current Research International, 22(3), 25–40. [https://doi.org/10.9734/ACRI/2022/v22i330279](https://doi.org/10.9734/ACRI/2022/v22i330279)
16. Onyeozili, E. C. (2015). Violence, security challenges and the Nigerian state. African Journal of Criminology and Justice Studies, 8(1), 1–15.
17. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2023). Organized crime and insecurity in Nigeria. UNODC.
18. Yabagi, A. U., & Ada, O. (2025). Analysis of factors influencing cultism and cult-related violence in Nigeria. Journal of Human, Social and Political Science Research, 9.
19. Yabagi, A. U., & Ada, O. (2025). Analysis of factors influencing cultism and cult-related violence in Nigeria. Human, Social & Political Science Research, 9(6). [https://doi.org/10.70382/sjhspsr.v9i6.037](https://doi.org/10.70382/sjhspsr.v9i6.037)
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
