HOW I OVERCAME: Alleged Cult Membership: Colleagues, Lecturers Saved Me From Expulsion – Izogba

Three years after graduation and completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mandatory national assignment, Ekani Izogba (not real name) is yet to put behind him the ugly incident that almost led to his expulsion from the university.

The incident occurred in his final year at a state university in the North Central zone of Nigeria.

After waiting for over three weeks for a classmate who had collected his lecture notes without returning them, Izogba inquired about the student’s off-campus residence.

He traced the house, but unknown to him, the student was hosting an initiation for new members that fateful day. As soon as he arrived in the building, security operatives, acting on intelligence, raided the venue and made arrests. Izogba was one of the suspects.

Recounting his ordeal to LEADERSHIP,  Izogba said, “I narrowly escaped expulsion after being arrested in connection with alleged cult activities. The ugly incident almost ended my academic journey.

“It began when security operatives raided an off-campus residence following intelligence reports of a suspected cult meeting. Several students were arrested during the operation, including me, whose presence at the scene immediately raised suspicion among university authorities.

“At our matriculation, the institution made it clear that it has zero tolerance for social vices, including cultism. I had kept myself away from such vices and concentrated on my studies.

“When the issue of my arrest for cult-related activities arose, many lecturers and colleagues voiced their support for me. The university’s disciplinary committee acted swiftly, suspending me pending investigation. The offence—membership of a secret cult—is considered one of the gravest violations of campus regulations, often attracting immediate expulsion upon confirmation.

However, in a dramatic turn of events, Izogba maintained his innocence, insisting he had unknowingly visited the residence to meet a friend to collect his lecture notes. His claims were initially met with scepticism, but further investigations revealed inconsistencies in the allegations against him.

He continued, “Eyewitness accounts and phone records supported my story. They showed no prior links to cult groups. A key witness also testified that I had arrived at the location moments before the raid, unaware of any illegal gathering.

“Following weeks of inquiry, the disciplinary committee ruled that there was insufficient evidence to establish my involvement in cultism. The panel recommended that I be recalled and that the suspension be lifted. This was accepted by the management and I was allowed to resume my studies under strict monitoring.

Izogba described the experience as “the darkest moment” of his life, adding that it had taught him the importance of being mindful of associations.