No mention of a Panter Cofraternity could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Both the University of Ibadan and the Polytechnic, Ibadan are post-secondary educational institutions located in Ibadan, Nigeria (The World of Learning 1999 1998, 1098 and 1108). There are references to cult activities at educational institutions in Ibadan which do not specify the institution (AP 13 July 1999; Post Express 18 July 1997).

According to security reports cited in an 18 July 1997(a) Post Express report "over 60 educational institutions in Nigeria are now under heavy security surveillance, having been listed as zones of high cult activities." Oyo State, in which Ibadan is located, was reported to have three "cult-prone" institutions, while Ondo State had two (ibid.). Another Post Express article provided a list of "cult-prone institutions" that included the University of Ibadan and The Polytechnic, Ibadan. Ondo State University, Ago-Ekiti, was not on that list (18 July 1997b).

The University of Ibadan is the institution at which Wole Soyinka set up the first university "confraternity" in the 1950s (Mail & Guardian 21 Sept. 1999). This group, the Pyrates Confraternity, was "dedicated to 'social justice and fairness'" and Soyinka has recently "denounced" current cults (ibid.).

The following are reports from 1999 that mention cult activities related to the University of Ibadan. Following "the spate of violence which has engulfed the nation's tertiary institution in recent times especially at the University of Ibadan and the Obafemi Awolowo University" President Obasanjo "directed that police patrol services be provided on all campuses in the country" (Post Express 16 July 1999). This directive came after a meeting of "top Presidency officials" (ibid.). The newspaper also reported that "the situation in the last two weeks has consumed the chief security officer of the University of Ibadan" (ibid.).

In August 1999, "people believed to be cult members disrupted registration formalities ... with stones and missiles" at a student rally at the Students' Union building of the University of Ibadan (P.M. News 10 Aug. 1999). Another August article reported that "authorities of the University of Ibadan have raised an alarm over the importation of persons suspected to be cult members into the institution. ... The authorities have, therefore, deployed law enforcement agents to strategic places to keep surveillance" (ibid. 12 Aug. 1999).

On 1 September 1999, "the University of Ibadan ... inaugurated its 18-member anti-cultism campaign committee" (IPS 3 Sept. 1999). Also in September at this university, 16 students

renounced their membership of cultism ... in what appeared to be a major breakthrough in the on-going efforts by the university to stamp out cultism in the institution. Out of the figure, five of the students made open declarations while the eleven others, apparently out of fear of embarrassment or molestation, reportedly renounced that secret cult membership in camera (P.M. News 24 Sept. 1999).

There are also reports of cult activities specific to The Polytechnic, Ibadan (Post Express 19 Feb. 1998; ibid. 22 Aug. 1997; ibid. 24 June 1997; The News 19 July 1999).

With respect to Ondo State University, in April 1997 new students were warned by the university's Student Affairs Officer during an orientation lecture, to avoid involvement with cults (Post Express 30 Apr. 1997).

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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Associated Press (AP). 13 July 1999. "Nigerian Students Protest Killing of Seven in Campus Violence." (NEXIS)

Inter Press Service (IPS). 3 September 1999. "Education-Nigeria: Winning the War Against Cultism on the Campus." (NEXIS)

Mail and Guardian [Johannesburg]. 21 September 1999. Joel Olatunde Agoi. "Nigeria Battles Student Violence After Campus Bloodshed." http://www.mg.co.za [Accessed 2 Mar. 2000]

The News [Lagos]. 19 July 1999. Bamidele Adebayo. "Nigeria; Campus of Deaths." (NEXIS)

P.M. News [Lagos]. 24 September 1999. "Nigeria; Today in Nigerian Newspapers." (NEXIS)

_____. 12 August 1999. "Nigeria; Today in Nigerian Newspapers." (NEXIS)

_____. 10 August 1999. "Nigeria; Today in Nigerian Newspapers." (NEXIS)

Post Express [Lagos]. 16 July 1999. Josiah Emerole. "FG Suspends OAU Vice Chancellor - Okays Police Patrol on Campuses." www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 1 Mar. 2000]

_____. 19 Feb. 1998. Dele Ogunyemi. "256 Students, Others Pencilled Down for Dismissal Over Cults." www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 1 Mar. 2000]

_____. 22 August 1997. Tunde Sanni. "Four Students Killed in Clash Between UNILORN, Polytechnics." www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 1 Mar. 2000]

_____. 18 July 1997a. Josiah Emerole. "6o Schools Declared High Cult Zones." www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 1 Mar. 2000]

_____. 18 July 1997b. "List of Cult-Prone Institutions." www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 1 Mar. 2000]

_____. 24 June 1997. Dele Ogunyemi. "Ibadan Poly Hunts Cult Members." www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 1 Mar. 2000]

_____. 30 April 1997. Makinde Afolabi. "Ondo Varsity Warns New Students Against Cultism." www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 1 Mar. 2000]

The World of Learning 1999. 1998. 49th ed. London: Europa Publications.

Africa Confidential. [London]. January 1998 - February 2000.

IRB databases

LEXIS-NEXIS

New African [London]. January 1999 - February 2000.

REFWORLD

Research Directorate. Indexed Media Review (IMR) [Ottawa]. Weekly. July 1998 - February 2000.

Resource Centre. Nigeria country file. May 1998 - February 2000.

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet sites including:

Mail and Guardian [Johannesburg].

Nigeria Media Monitor

Nigeria News Network

Post Express [Lagos].