The Senate Arm of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has raised the alarm over the growing wave of cultism, kidnapping, killings, and violence across Nigeria, urging urgent action from government and all stakeholders to curb the menace.

In a statement by its Senate President, Festus Oyewumi, NAPS stressed that the safety of students and youth can no longer be taken for granted. He said the association would not sit idly by while the good image of the nation continues to be tarnished by rising insecurity.

“We are crying for a safe society by campaigning against violence everywhere in Nigeria. Our campuses and communities must be safe,” Oyewumi declared. “Until Nigeria becomes a safe place, we are not going to relent.”

He further called for a state of emergency on insecurity, noting that young people must shun cultism and other social vices that have now become rampant.

The statement also highlighted a chilling case in Ikotun, Lagos, where two notorious cult groups — the Axe Confraternity (Aiye, known by black and yellow colors) and the Eagles Confraternity (Eiye, known by blue) — allegedly launched a wave of violence, targeting vulnerable youths and even forcefully initiating school children.

Oyewumi condemned the ordeal of Ojegbenro Leye, a local youth leader who reportedly became a target of these gangs after organizing sensitization campaigns to protect teenagers in his community. His advocacy drew the ire of cult members, who allegedly circulated his photo across their platforms, marking him for elimination.

Matters were made worse by claims that some security operatives were sympathetic to, or even linked with, these groups. Each attempt by Leye to report threats was met with indifference or outright hostility. With nowhere to turn, and faced with credible threats to his life and family, he was eventually forced to flee the country, while his parents also had to relocate out of fear.

“What made matters worse was that these criminal groups reportedly have connections with powerful political figures and are often used for electoral violence,” Oyewumi said. “This widespread complicity makes it nearly impossible for victims to seek justice or protection.”

NAPS urged the government, security agencies, community leaders, and all well-meaning Nigerians to come together to rid society of cultism and violent gangs. The association vowed to keep speaking out until Nigerian campuses and communities are safe again for young people to learn, live, and thrive.