Nigerian junior international Douglas Uzama’s murder drives home the reality of cultism

By Daily Sports on January 3, 2017

Have you ever been referred to as a Jew? Yes, ‘Jew’. If you are a male youth and not a member of any clandestine organisation in Nigeria, chances are that you must have heard the term and it must have rankled you.

The word ‘Jew’ (I wonder whether it has any anti-Semitic origins here in Nigeria) is used to refer to guys who are not members of cult groups. It is a term often used derogatorily and connotes weakness, lack of ‘orientation’ on how to best live life and a certain lack of identity.

The opposite term to Jew is called ‘injus man’. The ‘injus man’ is the cultist who is considered in the streets the hard man. He is the one with the right orientation for living life. So the narrative goes. The ‘injus men’ are the fine boys, the deadly guys too. And with just a few days to the new year in the city of Benin in Edo state, the ‘injus men’ reportedly struck, shooting to death a promising and very talented footballer, Douglas Uzama.

The killing of Uzama has sent shock waves around Edo State and beyond. Underneath this current of shock and grief is a suspicion that the Nigerian junior international was a victim of inter-cult battle in Benin and that he himself was a cultist who was targeted by a rival group looking to score some huge psychological and vengeful points.

Was Uzama a Jew or an ‘injus man’ himself? I honestly don’t have enough information to confirm that. But here’s what I do know: The prevalence of cultism amongst Nigerian youths is a reality. It’s become something of a subculture in the streets. The rarity now is for a young healthy man to choose to remain a ‘Jew’.

I also know that many of these cult boys are usually everyday guys, working hard to make ends meet. Many are thoughtful and generally nice young men, despite their sometimes misguided utterances and actions. Many just want to get by and be of help to their families and people around them. Most are not blood-thirsty murderers. Most, like the rest of us, would prefer an ideal world where they would not want to fear walking through the streets.

Why am I saying all of these? We shouldn’t allow the senseless slaying of Uzama to make us give up on our youths. In every group, in every society and in every age, there are those so filled with hate and of a murderous bent. You will find them in and out of cult groups. They shouldn’t be allowed to win by our sinking into ceaseless despair. The police most do their job and fish out those who have killed this promising star. We don’t need the ranting and demonisation of ‘injus men’. All we need is to be reassured that we can be safe around our youths because the security agencies are up and doing.

The Douglas Uzama that I know was a humble lad. I saw him rise from grassroots football in the playing fields of Benin City to the national team and Nigerian Premier League football. His professional attitude on and off the pitch was impressive. I remember how enthusiastic he was to talk about his experience with the Under-21 team when we last chatted on Facebook some months ago. He will always remain in our thoughts.

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 3, 2017


 

You may also like...
Djokovic Falls To Medvedev in Monte Carlo Quarters...

Aston Villa sign Dutch defender Maatsen from Chelsea...

Nigeria bow to Namibia in cricket World Cup...

Osayi-Samuel Set To Join Ozil’s Fenerbahce

BJ Promotions shifts inaugural tour event

NPFL: Lobi maintain lead, Pillars edge Enyimba

 

Latest News Nigeria: South African Minister Explains Why He Does Not Want Nigeria to Qualify for 2026 World Cup Anthony Joshua's next opponent? Kingsley Ibeh calls for AJ fight in Nigeria: 'I will definitely knock him out!' Nigeria: Pinnick Slams South African Sports Minister for Wishing Eagles Failure in World Cup Playoffs Ajibade, Nnadozie, Falcons, others nominated for 2025 CAF awards Nigeria book ITTF World Championships spot Eagles rise to 41st in FIFA rankings Iwobi faces Gunners to become sole Nigerian apps leader Gusau confident of Eagles’ World Cup playoff success Students shine at Lagos Schools Tennis tourney NAF announces two-hour road closure in Abuja for 10km walk Eagles stepping up under Chelle – Akpeyi I’m living a dream – Adams

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (63,256 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,453 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,408 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,013 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,003 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (51,970 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,799 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,381 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,498 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,038 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,478 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (46,938 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media