International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR)

Background: Cultism has become a persistent social and security challenge in many rural communities of the Niger Delta, undermining economic activities, livelihoods, and community development. Despite growing concern over its prevalence, empirical evidence on the socioeconomic factors driving cultism and its economic consequences in rural communities remains limited.
Objective: This study examined the socioeconomic drivers of cultism and assessed its economic consequences in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Method: The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation), Pearson Product Moment Correlation, Ordered Logistic Regression, and other relevant inferential statistical techniques. Results: The findings revealed that unemployment (0.871), illiteracy (0.844), poverty (0.796), and peer influence (0.741) were the major socioeconomic drivers of cult involvement among respondents. The study further established a strong positive relationship between cultism and economic instability (r = 0.724, p < 0.001). Ordered logistic regression analysis also confirmed that cultism exerts a significant positive effect on economic instability (? = 1.482, p < 0.001; Pseudo R² = 0.47), indicating that increasing cult-related activities substantially worsen the economic conditions of affected rural communities.
Conclusion: The study concludes that cultism is primarily driven by socioeconomic deprivation, particularly unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, and peer influence. It further demonstrates that cult-related activities significantly undermine economic stability, reduce livelihood opportunities, discourage investment, and hinder sustainable rural development in Ogbia Local Government Area.
Unique Contribution: This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on both the socioeconomic determinants and economic consequences of cultism in a rural Niger Delta setting. Unlike previous studies that have largely focused on the security implications of cultism, this research integrates socioeconomic and economic perspectives, thereby offering a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon and informing evidence-based policy interventions.
Key Recommendation: Government, community leaders, and development agencies should implement integrated interventions that address the root socioeconomic drivers of cultism through employment generation, poverty reduction programmes, skills acquisition, quality education, and youth empowerment initiatives. In addition, community-based security partnerships and sustained public awareness campaigns should be strengthened to reduce cult recruitment and promote sustainable rural development.