Politics-administration Conundrum in Africa : Dichotomy or Nexus for Sustainable Environmental Security in Lagos State, Nigeria

In many parts of the world, cultism creates an atmosphere of negative peace as a result of its footprints in the security market which facilitate arms proliferation. Youth cultism is one of the sources of violence in most Nigerian cities. Several studies on cultism have focused on the evolution of cult related activities in Nigeria from non-violence to the proliferation of splinter secret cults in tertiary institutions and communities. This study examines the socioeconomic and security implications of cultism in Nigerian cities. The study answers the following questions: What are the linkages between cultism, crime and violence in the country? How do cult groups engage in lethal violence? Why are Nigerian cities prone to cult related activities? How does cultism affect people in cities? This qualitative study found that the abatement of cultism so far has not yielded expected results as some innocent people are murdered by cult groups with dangerous weapons. The assurances of safety, protection, success in the society and the influence by members when they join do not always materialise as desired. Fatal incidents indicate that membership of cult groups is not an antidote to associated lethal violence. The study recommends that informal peace education and security collaboration by all stakeholders remain crucial to the management of cult violence in Nigerian cities. Timely identification of notorious groups or members through early warning system will go a long way to discouraging the spatial spread and recruitment of new members.