Staff and students of Usmanu Dangodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Sokoto State, last December, woke up to see strange signs drawn in strategic locations within the campus, sparking fear of impending attacks by suspected cultists.
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| The red sign inscribed on the floor |
The signs, which have bent cross and four arrowheads painted with red ink, are posted on walls and boards around the campus, especially along the popular Jatau walkway and the mini-market area in the university.
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| Broccoli and the red signs |
Many linked these signs to attacks by suspected cultists and even bandits. But the university management has denied the link between the strange signs and cultism. They told Premium Times that the university has investigated all the logos and signs of secret cultism in Nigeria with none sharing such identity.
However, a further investigation carried out by NEWS DIGEST PRESS revealed that these signs were inscribed by a group of students called Cult of Petrine. According to them, the sign is called ‘Broccoli Sigil.’
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| Broccoli and the red sign |
In a video found on an Instagram handle @Broccoliandjuice, a yet to be identified man was found claiming credit for the signs.
In his words, he said, “The whole idea was to create something that sparks up conversation. Why is our school unprotected?
He continued, “If I could do that only one person going around the school to make that whole stuff and nobody finds out why. It means our school is insecure. The north is insecure and why is our school not secured. Who is protecting us?
“We are the future. We saw what happened in school. Why are we not at the table in making decisions in school? In making decisions on what should be and who shouldn’t. I don’t want you guys to see me as your enemy, I want you to embrace the symbol. Because it is a symbol for freedom, it’s a symbol for change. It’s a symbol to change everything. It’s a symbol to show that you have power. We can change everything. So when you see that symbol, hold on to it. It’s for all of us,” he added.
Who is Broccoli and Juice —The guy behind the red signs?
According to the Instagram handle, the guy claimed he was arrested by the university security men for indecency. The NEWS DIGEST PRESS traced his Instagram handle to a Twitter account @Broccolijuuh where the guy claimed on November 25 that he got harassed and threatened with expulsion from the school.
He tweeted, “I got harassed today and was threatened with expulsion because of my dreads…they made me cut it #UDUSdoesitagain.”
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| A screenshot of his tweets |
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| His Twitter account |
He went further to explain on his Instagram handle that being a student of Usmanu Danfofiyo University, Sokoto, he has passed through hell.
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| A screenshot of his Instagram post |
“Individuality is a crime in Nigeria, you can’t be who you are without any oppression from people who envy creativity and style. Being a student at Usman Danfodiyo University is HELL!!!! passing through Zamfara state is a way bigger hell I’ve been in both and they aren’t worth it!!! I was threatened with my admission, I was threatened with everything, this is what it means to be Nigerian schooling in Nigeria,” Broccoli said.
The NewsDigest further observed that the most used words on his social media platforms are ‘Psychedelia’ and ‘Red Adam’.
When searched for its meaning through a google search engine, ‘Psychedelia’ refers to the psychedelic subculture of the 1960s and the psychedelic experience. This includes psychedelic art, psychedelic music and style of dressing during that era. This was primarily generated by people who used psychedelic drugs such as LSD, mescaline (found in peyote) and psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms) and also non-users who were participants and aficionados of this subculture.
According to Wikipedia, Psychedelic art and music typically recreate or reflect the experience of altered consciousness. Psychedelic art uses highly distorted, surreal visuals, bright colours and full spectrums and animation (including cartoons) to evoke, convey, or enhance the psychedelic experience. Psychedelic music uses distorted electric guitar, Indian music elements such as the sitar, tabla, electronic effects, sound effects and reverb, and elaborate studio effects, such as playing tapes backwards or panning the music from one side to another.
In a video found on his Instagram page, the guy could be seen smoking substances that bear similar description with ‘Psychedelia’ as described by Wikipedia. At the same time, the guy is fond of signs that resemble cartoons and flashy colour (red), another feature described by Wikipedia to be that of psychedelia.
Cult of Broccoli Platform
The NewsDigest Press found a Whatsapp platform created on 2nd April, 2021 which is being used by members of the cult of Broccoli and as of Tuesday Morning, 25 contacts are in the group.
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| A screenshot of Cult of Broccoli WhatsApp Platform |
A truecaller search ran on the two admins of the group revealed Japhet Ichado and Sawy UDUS as the identity of the contacts bearers.
His Desire
His (Broccoli and Juice) philosophy, the NEWS DIGEST PRESS gathered, is based on no religion and radical individuality.
According to his substack post tilted red devil, the guy wanted a world where he would not be demonized for being different.
“A world where I am truly understood, a world where I am not demonized for looking different, feeling different, fantasizing different or getting high on Cannabis uniting with its bliss.
“A world free from the chains of religion and societal oppression, a world free for the expression of the soul my body embodies, a world where art meets art in symbiosis,” he said.
