True, fraternities do get involved in violence, properties do get destroyed and regrettably, lives are lost. So, are we to conclude that they aim at killing themselves? Think, who would join an organization knowing they could get killed or would be sent to kill? We can reveal that students rarely join a fraternity by force. Usually, people join because of frustration. It is true, to join, one must be sound (in body and mind), that rigorous exercises are done, that courage is tested; e.g. going to the cemetery at night. This may be evidence of a group prone to violence. What is of concern to all peace-loving individuals is the killing and use of cudgels on campuses. Why is this so?
Principally, there are seven reasons discussed below. It should be noted that any of these or a combination of all or any of these is enough to trigger a blood bath.
First and perhaps foremost, is rivalry amongst the different groups: Pyrates, Buccaneers, Black Axe, Maphites, Mafia, Eiye, etc. For reasons that inexplicable, they see themselves as rivals. Such a crop of intelligent people should know that it is better to work in unison, they refuse to see each other as playing complementary roles. Unity, though desirable, cannot be easy to forge, some of these groups are splinter groups from other groups. Buccaneers broke away from Pyrates; Black Axe tried in vain to join Buccaneers so the unity might continue to be elusive given how these groups sprang up. From day one, they set out to be rivals. Painfully, they might remain so if they don’t put aside these differences. Before 1972, Pyrates terrorized campuses unchallenged. Buccaneers sprang up to check this menace and the Black Axe should be given credit for initially closing ranks with the Buccaneers to check the Pyrate menace. Since that has been achieved fully, can it now be said that there is nothing left to do but consume themselves? Other fraternities argue that the Buccaneers, Eiye and the Black Axe are to be blamed for the tension on campuses today, since Pyrates existence is now more or less social at the campus level if at all they still exist. These groups try to sabotage each other, so violence is still resorted to. Close to this also is revenge. Perhaps the most vengeful is the Buccaneers. They rarely draw first blood, but will not hesitate to repay a slap with a severe beating. For them, it is “blood for blood”. Buccaneers are said to guarantee peace if and only their interest is not compromised. If it is, they can go to any lengths – even if they have to wait for a very long time.
Mutiny is yet another factor, it is in fact a coup. It is an attempt to change the status quo, so time and time again, a campus leader of any of these groups may lose out. Whether or not the mutiny is successful, violence does not set in. All fraternity leaders enjoy absolute power. Autocracy does breed discontent, particularly where the leader is undiplomatic or happens to have a more popular deputy! For a successful mutiny. Discontent must be prevalent. Since there is no avenue (as yet) for voting or complaints (remember, order is order), mutiny occurs or the leader continues unchallenged. Recent disturbances at UniJos and UniCal can be traced to mutiny. In UniJos’ case, it was put down with the help of graduate members, even then, some blood was spilled.
Informants always get the short end of the stick. Sooner or later, words filter to the fraternity and they avenge mercilessly. Generally, members of a group do not squeal on their activities. What they do is to sabotage a rival group to the authorities. Routinely, each school authority gets several lists of each group, because each group points a finger the other later. They square accounts in their own particular way – violence.
The worst situation is to be an unprotected informant i.e. an informant who does not belong to any group, but is just playing the “good student”. It’s more like wishing oneself doom. Many a time, the protection offered by the school is hogwash. Before long, the fraternities even mess things up. The latest hit at the University of Calabar and the University of Benin is said to be on all fours with this scenario. Investigation reveals that the said strike was more to discourage other such “good students” than to punish the informant. After all, the damage had already been done to the reputation of the fraternity in question. Besides, if that act had gone unavenged, the fraternity in question would have lost face amongst other fraternities, thus encouraging other rival groups and even students to make further encouragement on the fraternity’s sphere of influence. Before long decline sets in, no group wants to be a weeping boy.
Drunkenness also plays a significant part in the sometimes-violent activities of fraternities. The Pyrates’ “concoction”, the Buccaneers’ “brew” and the Black Axe’s “Kokoma” intoxicate, in that they are a blend of alcoholic beverages and coffee! Yes, coffee ensures that even if you are drunk, rather than sleep, you’ll be alert. How ingenious! For most meetings and for most members, you have to be armed, just in case. In fact, for the Black Axe, the portable, yet effective axe as part of the official regalia! Predictably, this weapon may be used at perhaps, the slightest provocation. And on one of your fraternal brothers – how ironic!
Things may degenerate once in a while, I must note that not all members drink this alcohol blend. Some make do with soft drinks, which are always provided. It is therefore not true that all members consume alcoholic beverages. However, it is said that all new initiates must taste an alcoholic beverage just to see if you are “man enough”.
It should be pointed out that not all acts of violence are caused by fraternities. Ordinarily, students fight each other every day over lovers, money, theft and other mundane issues. To any casual onlooker who of course cannot tell the forest from the trees, “these bad boys done start again”. Some ordinary students are known to have hired thugs to roughen up some of their rivals who may be students or lecturers. The point is that violence is not the monopoly of fraternities. It is therefore naïve and mischievous for any gullible student or individual to conclude that all acts of violence are caused by fraternities. Like any other body of persons, disagreements do arise. Like any other society or club, fraternities are individuals who live in our present-day, decadent society and so, are bound to exhibit traces of good and bad. They are a mirror – a reflection of the present-day Nigerian society – complete with unnamable vices and what little virtue may abound. Fraternities are merely a reflection of society.
