The following information was provided by a professor of English at the University of West England in Bristol, who is a co-author of Critical Perspectives on Wole Soyinka and Wole Soyinka: A Bibliography of Primary and Secondary Sources, in a 1 August 1998 letter sent by fax to the Research Directorate.

Based on the professor's understanding and interpretation, the Sea Dogs is an alternative name for the Pyrates Confraternity. This interpretation is drawn from publicity materials produced for a conference on Nigeria's future entitled the National Association of Sea Dogs that took place at the Commonwealth Institute in London about four years ago. The professor was unable to provide additional information on the Sea Dogs. Please consult Response to Information Request NGA29332.E of 20 May 1998 for additional information on the Pyrates Confraternity.

The professor's interpretation is corroborated in New African which states that the National Association of Sea Dogs is also known as the Pyrates Confraternity (Apr. 1998, 26). Wole Soyinka describes the Sea Dogs cult during its early formation years in the mid-1950s as "being full of humanistic ideals of comradeship and chivalry" (ibid.). However, the article adds that cults today on Nigerian campuses "have perverted the original ideals by pursuing purely selfish and often evil objectives," and have engaged in activities of "bloodshed and extreme destruction, rape, oppression, intimidation and a general reign of terror" (ibid.). Furthermore, cult members are subjected to cruel initiation rites and must swear to absolute secrecy (or face death) about cult activities (ibid.).

New African states, based on a national intelligence document, that about 3,000 individuals are active in 32 identified cults in 46 Nigerian universities. These cults include the Pyrates Confraternity, Buccaneers, Black Cats, Black Axes, Jurists, Gentlemen's Club and Klu Klux Klan; there is also a female cult called the Amazon (ibid.).

The April 1998 New African article on secret cults is available at all Regional Documentation Centres via the Indexed Media Review on Nigeria.

Sources indicate that 33 students of the Zealous Society, a faction of the Nigerian Sea Dog Fraternity, were arrested in February 1995 by police in Ekpoma for belonging to this "secret cult" (Radio Nigeria 21 Feb. 1995; DPA 21 Feb. 1995; The Washington Times 23 Feb. 1995). Police seized knives, daggers and swords belonging to the group and stated that the group was planning to use them in an attack against police to avenge the death of their colleagues who were killed in an August 1994 riot (ibid.).

Attempts to obtain information from Wole Soyinka have been unsuccessful.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 21 February 1995. "Nigerian Police Arrest 22 Suspected Cult Members." (NEXIS)

New African [London]. April 1998. Pini Jason. "Secret Cults Terrorise Nigerian Universities."

Professor of English, University of West England, Bristol. 1 August 1998. Letter sent to the Research Directorate by fax.

Radio Nigeria [Lagos, in English]. 21 February 1995. "Edo State Police Arrest 33 Suspected Secret Cult Members." (BBC Summary 23 Feb. 1995/NEXIS)

The Washington Times. 23 February 1995. "Nigerian Police Arrest 33 Students." (NEXIS)

Indexed Media Review: Nigeria. 1998.

West Africa [London]. 1998.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).