For many years, cultism has remained a monster in Rivers State, leading to the killing of many people, including traditional rulers, youth leaders, security operatives and political leaders. Two communities, Iba and Obelle in Emohua Local Government Area, were once sacked by cult-related violence. So also were some communities in Ahoada East and Ahoada West.
‘It is a well-organised empire of crime,’ said Philip Obed, who runs a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and has been following the activities of cult groups and confraternities in the area. Obed says cultism is so organised in the state that there is a clear difference between the cult groups that operate in the territory institutions and others that exist on streets and communities.
Obed said: ‘Three months ago in Rivers State University (RSU), precisely at the back gate where they call Azikiwe by Opobo Lane, the Rivers State Police command announced that they arrested three cultists. The command concealed their names for investigative purposes.
‘They were arrested with English made revolver pistol, two live ammunition and one expended ammunition. Those arrested were members of the Klu Klus Klans (KKK). So, the ones that operate in the universities are different from the ones that operate on the streets.
‘The campus cult groups include Vikings, Black Axe Confraternity, Buccaneer Confraternity, Mafia known as Family Cult, Aiye or Eiye Confraternity; Two Two, Burkina Faso, KKK and Mafait. So, we have nine of them in all the higher institutions in the state.’
But he says three of the cult groups dominate the higher institutions in the state.
Obed said: ‘In Rivers, there are three dominant cult groups in higher institutions. They are the Vikings, Black Axe and the KKK. Most times in the universities, you see clashes among these three big groups.
‘Those ones the police arrested at the university back gate was a clash between the KKK and the Vikings. You will recall that after two, three weeks there was a death at Iwofe. The police confirmed that the boy was a student of Ignatius Ajuru University and that it was suspected to be a cult clash.
‘So, if one clash starts in one institution, it spreads to other institutions. If they can’t find a target in one institution, they will look at other institution or areas dominated by students for a target.
‘Two or three months ago, five cult members were arrested in Ignatius Ajuru University. What happened? The Number 2 man of Black Axe came to write exams in the school, there was an existing war between the Black Axe and Mafian confraternity.
‘So when the number two man came to write exams, they sent five people to guide him. But the police and the school through intelligence arrested those five people and the number two man.
‘Recently, the police released a statement that a policeman was arrested at UNIPORT. Even if they didn’t mention the name, those ones are black axe members. There are symbols that you will use to identify them.’
Besides the campus cult groups, Obed says bigger cult activities take place on streets and communities. He maintains that his years of experience reveal that street cultism is severer than campus cult activities.
He explained that the affiliates are identified as either Houses or Decks.
He said: ‘On the streets, we have four major cult groups or community cult groups and they have affiliates. These are Island, Greenland, Degbam and the Junior Vikings also known as Dewell.
‘They now have affiliates like Degbam Houses. This means different branches of Degbam. The Islands call their braches Deck. Greeland also uses Deck because it came out of Island. Dewell also uses Deck.
Obed recalled that earlier in the year, there was a serious clash between houses of Degbam and a taxi driver was killed. He said although cultism exists in other states, it is more serious in Edo and Rivers. In Rivers, he said, various cult groups control different territories, adding that the quest to take over another territory fuels cult clashes in the state.
Obed said: ‘The cult groups own territories. They have unit leaders, community leaders, local government leaders and state leaders. If you go to places like the Marine Base and Makoba, those ones are the territories of the Island.
‘Places like Amadi Ama, Aboloma are the territories of the Greenland. Places like Mile One Diobu are territories of Degbam. When you come to Mile 3 from Ikoku as if you are going to the UST Back Gate, they belong to the Dewell.
‘So, in each LGA, they have territories. What causes the cult clashes is that to gain relevance you must be able to conquer territories so that you will be recognised.
‘If in that territory there is a bus stop, the dominant cult group will be collecting the marching ground. For another cult group to collect the marching ground there, you must be able to have fought and dislodge them from the territory.
‘Most of the clashes are for economic survival. If in your territory you have a booming drug business, for another cult group to take over the booming drug business, the group must be able to dislodge the one in charge of that territory. The more territories you take over, the more is your survival guaranteed.’
On their sources of incomes, Obed said: ‘One of their major sources of income is political patronage. If you check the bus stops, those boys that collect money from bus drivers and taxi drivers, it is their sources of income, and they are compensations from politicians they worked for during elections.
‘They collect money from the traders in the market as marching ground. It is political settlement.
‘Another way is political thuggery, especially during election periods. Another source of making money is kidnapping and armed robbery.’
He further said there is a nexus between other vices and cultism.
‘You cannot be a don in illegal oil bunkering without being a cultist. Almost all the drug barons are cult leaders.
‘If you reduce cultism to the barest minimum you have succeeded in reducing armed robbery, illegal bunkering, kidnapping and other vices.
‘Cultism is a major support to these vices’.
Obed listed institutional involvement, political patronage and sabotage by security agencies as factors hindering the war against cultism.
He said: ‘Some of the security agencies are involved, and it is a major challenge. If some serving security agencies are members, there will be sabotage on the war against cultism.
‘I remember in 2016, a Garrison Commander in the Nigerian Army accused a National Assembly member from Rivers State of siding with the Greenland while a royal highness was siding with the Island.
‘So, the involvement of highly placed persons is the major challenge in the war against cultism. Even if they don’t carry guns openly, they aid and abet by their sponsorships and provision of economic survival for them.
‘The politicians are the ones giving them markets to collect money.
Obed regrets that many people have died in Rivers street cult clashes. He said the death tolls cannot be determined, because cult wars are not like conventional fights.
‘The cult clash that happened in Dioubu about five months ago, we recorded about five deaths before the police clamped down on them.
‘A cultist is a potential armed robber, a potential drug baron, kidnapper or rapist. In Rivers State, you cannot be a drug baron, an oil thief, kidnapper and armed robber without first being a cultist.
‘In other states, someone can be an armed robber and a kidnapper without being a member of any cult. You cannot perpetrate crimes in areas you don’t own the territory.’
Obed recalled that in the past, some communities were under siege by cultists.
He said: ‘Like in 2023 after the election, in Ahoada West, cultists killed five men in the community because one General Danger imposed a levy the community should be paying to him. So in the month of June, they failed to pay him and he moved into the community and killed people.
‘Before the death of the infamous cult leader 2Baba in Ahoada East, communities were paying levies to him and cultists were installing traditional rulers, youth leaders and CDC leaders.
‘But now I can comfortably tell you that no community in the state is under the control of cultists.
‘Cult groups exist in the communities but they no longer control them like before. Iba and Obele in Emohua suffered at the hands of cultists before, but now what they do is to come, kill and go. They killed a traditional ruler and a vigilante leader.
‘Recently, the chairman of the LGA placed N2 million bounty on one General Cairo and his gang, and all of them are on the run. The army unit is still patrolling between Iba and Obele. They have informants in the communities.
‘Obed further raised the alarm that cultism is creeping into the primary and secondary schools in the state. There is also a major challenge: cultism is now creeping into secondary and primary schools.
‘Some years ago in Mgbosimiri, a pupil was arrested with a pistol and he said he had issues with the teacher. We also have clashes in secondary schools along Aba Road.’
On what the government and security agencies should do to stop cultism in the state, he said: ‘The cult groups have launched a campaign of catching them young. They are not only going to universities, they are also going to public primary and secondary schools.
‘The government should include in their syllabus dangers and negative consequences of cultism in primary and secondary schools. Churches should also teach the negative consequences of cultism, emphasising the ultimate gain, which is death.
‘Our reward system is another problem. Even if you want to grant amnesty to cultists, it should not be from the side of weakness. The person must have shown genuine remorse and repentance.
‘But what do you see? The government will say that someone is killing too much and begin to approach the same person to make peace. It is not supposed to be.
‘Youth elections, CDC chairmanship poll, traditional rulers also cause these clashes. When cult groups support different candidates, there will surely be a clash.
‘The government should conduct such elections in a way that cult groups would not align to support anybody. The security agencies should take intelligence gathering seriously.’
A rights activist and National Coordinator, Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, Prince Wiro, described cultism in Rivers State as severe and widespread.
More worrisome, he said, is the discovery that the menace is spreading to secondary and primary schools. Insisting that the only gain of cultism is death and imprisonment, Wiro called on the students to abstain from cult-related activities.
He also advocated the inclusion of anti-cultism courses in primary and secondary school curricular to teach the students the dangers of cultism.
Worried by the development, the Rivers State Police Command, in collaboration with the Police Campaign Against Cultism and other Vices (POCACOV) on Thursday launched a comprehensive anti-cultism and drug abuse campaign to combat the rising trends of illicit drug use and youth involvement in cult activities.
The initiative, held on October 3, 2025, at Community Secondary School, Rumuolumeni, Obio Akpor LGA, Rivers State, underscores the command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the citizenry.
The campaign with the theme ‘Cultism, Drug Abuse and My Academics,’ was specifically designed to enlighten students on the severe effects/consequences of joining secret cults and engaging in substance abuse; promote a safe and conducive learning environment; discourage youth involvement in cult activities and illicit drug use and to foster a culture of peace and harmony in the community.
Confirming the campaign, Irringe-Koko said: ‘The Rivers State Police Command reiterates its unwavering commitment to tackling the menace of social vices, including cultism, drug abuse, and other forms of criminality.
‘The command is dedicated to ensuring the safety, security and well-being of all citizens through collaboration with relevant stakeholders to prevent the spread of cultism and drug abuse, provide support and counseling services to victims of cultism and drug abuse amongst others.’
Last month, the ugly trend of cultism reared its head at the signing out of some students of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State. Among the students that wrote his final year examination was the alleged number one man (leader) of Eiye Confraternity in the school. Members of Eiye took to the streets to celebrate their leader’s graduation but it took a tragic turn.
While at the hotel where Eiye members gathered to celebrate, members of the Black Axe Confraternity stormed the place to celebrate and chaos erupted. Both cult groups engaged in a shootout. Four persons were later shot dead in different parts of Auchi following the fracas. Among the deceased was a barber.
In July this year, 12 persons were killed in various parts of the state including Oluku, Ogida, Textile Mill Road, 3rd East Circular Road, Ovbiogie, Ugbowo, Siluko Road and Uzama Street. A staff of the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital in Benin identified as Iyamu was among the victims.
Cult clashes in Edo State are mostly either between Eiye and Maphites, Eiye and Black Axe, Vikings and Eiye, Vikings and Black Axe or Black Axe and Eiye. A repentant cultist who pleaded anonymity said the supremacy battle between Eiye and Black Axe remained eternal. He said there would be no end to their fight.
In September, suspected cultists killed two persons, Eboh Enomwa and Stephen Imaghodo, at Iyanomo community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area,
At Evboyare community, Uhunmwode Local Government Area, a bloody cult clash led to the killing of one Festus. Several other persons, mostly youths, have been found beheaded in different parts of the state. Cultism and cult-related killings have been a recurrent event across Edo State.
During the administration of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the late Commissioner for Police, Chris Ejike, arrested and paraded suspected cult leaders in the state after weeks of killings and maiming. An aide to Oshiomhole was among those paraded. The arrest of the cult leaders stopped cult killings during that period.
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo gave his administration a thumb up for confronting and defeating the twin scourges of cultism and kidnapping in the state. This was because shortly after his inauguration as governor, Edo State was plunged into a cult war in which 20 youths were killed.
In a move to curb cult killings, Governor Okpebholo amended cultist and cultism law tagged the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, 2025. It became operational on January 24, 2025. The amended law had stiffer penalties. The punishment prescribed for being a member is life imprisonment or a minimum of 21 years in jail.
The new law criminalised any form of sponsorship or support. Traditional rulers or any persons who aid cult activities will be dethroned and jailed.
Also to be affected are property owners whose premises were used for cult meetings knowingly or unknowingly. The property owners risk a minimum of ten years imprisonment and possible demolition of the property.
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okpebholo, Fred Itua, said: ‘With the passage of this law, the Edo State Government has taken a firm stand: cultism, in any form, will no longer be condoned.
‘The law places responsibility on all stakeholders-schools, traditional institutions, hospitality businesses, parents, and security agencies-to uphold the values of peace and safety.
‘As Edo moves to rid itself of the scourge of cultism, the success of the new law will depend not only on legislation but also on consistent enforcement and community participation.
‘This legal reform is a bold declaration that the lives of Edo youths matter-and that the era of violence, fear, and impunity must come to an end.’
Several buildings in Benin City and Auchi suspected to have been used for cult meetings and cult activities have been demolished.
Governor Okpebholo further set up a Special Security Squad, codenamed ‘Operation Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers’ to pursue and chase out kidnappers and cultists.
The Special Security Squad has arrested more than 30 suspected cultists and demolished several buildings belonging to suspected cultists.
Forty-five-year-old Alexander, from Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, did not start off as a cult member. He was, however, visited by social vicissitudes which turned him into a monster for many years as a cultist.
Alex, as he is fondly called, who is from an average family, joined the Vikings Confraternity while in the university after allegedly being lured by his friends who painted a picture of Utopian world as a member.
He was with the cult group throughout his university days and after his graduation in 2012, coupled with lack of jobs, he still remained in the group outside the campus and became the Capone (the leader) of the Vikings.
For several years after leading the notorious cult gang, he became a central figure in a violent gang that terrorised his local community in the state through acts of theft, armed clashes, intimidation, and other criminal activities.
Alex and his gang members became willing tools in the hands of some desperate politicians who used them to silence their opponents and sponsor them to engage in rigging during elections. Their actions instilled fear and instability in the community, disrupted local economic activities, and led to multiple injuries and reported fatalities.
Like a man who has seen it all, Alex is lamenting his many years involvement in cult activities, noting that cultism has destroyed his life.
Reflecting on his past life, he regretted that at 45, he has yet to marry and does not have sustainable job to eke out a living. He lamented that most of his colleagues he finished university with are doing well in their chosen vocations.
‘There is nothing in this cult thing. It is like I was blindfolded before. I can now see that I have wasted over 25 years of my life.
‘My parents warned me about cultism, but because I did not know what I was doing, I rebuffed them. Because of the problems I was always involved in, my father suffered hypertension and died. Today, I am regretting my action.
‘All my mates have left me behind in every aspect of life. Initially, I thought I was catching cruise, but I have now discovered that I was fooling myself. I totally regret all my past actions. I pray God will forgive me.’
Alex urged parents and guardians not to give up on their children and wards as well as monitoring the kind of friends their children keep.
He said the most worrisome aspect of cult activities is that they have crept into basic schools, advising the governments not to rest on their oars by ensuring that schools are well monitored and policed.
He equally advised the relevant authorities not to handle issues of cults with kid gloves, stressing that there’s a thin line between cultism and other criminal activities such as rape, stealing, armed robberies and murders.
Also speaking on the menace of cultism, a parent and educationist based in Asaba asserted that people join cults due to a need for belonging and community, especially during vulnerable life stages, as well as due to manipulation by charismatic leaders and a desire to escape personal dissatisfaction.
The educational psychologist, who identified herself simply as Veronica, said factors like a charismatic leader, a strong sense of community, and the rejection of mainstream societal values could make cults appealing, particularly to individuals experiencing significant life transitions, emotional distress, or a feeling of being disconnected.
She said individuals undergoing major life changes such as starting college, experiencing a death, or facing financial hardship are particularly susceptible as well as people who are feeling unhappy, insecure, or disconnected from society often look for a place to belong.
Veronica said some people join cults to fulfill a desire for meaning, purpose, and acceptance that they feel is missing in their current lives.
She offered further insights, noting: ‘Cults and their leaders often target individuals who are looking for something to believe in and use persuasive techniques to recruit them.
‘Cults are typically led by a charismatic and persuasive individual who attracts followers and provides a sense of direction. They offer a strong sense of belonging, acceptance, and community that can be very appealing to those who feel isolated.’
She further said that recruitment often happened through existing members who are friends or acquaintances, making it seem more legitimate, stressing that some groups attract people who feel disillusioned with mainstream society, as they offer an alternative ideology to embrace.
In all of these, she advised strong parental roles and governments’ uncompromising resolve to rout the menace.
She stated that cultism is the brain behind so many atrocities being committed in society today, indicating that it is a lunching pad to thefts, robberies, armed robberies, murders and assassinations.
With the spread of cultism across all states of the country, Veronica advised: ‘The menace is a cankerworm eaten deep into the moral fabric of society. The situation has become a pandemic and something drastic must be done to eradicate this scourge in our society.’
Believing that the baby cannot be thrown away with the bath water, she offered some suggestions as part of the ways to prevent the menace of cultism in society.
The educationist advocated education and awareness campaigns about the dangers of cults, fostering strong family and community bonds, promoting critical thinking skills, and providing effective counseling and mental health support.
She urged educational institutions to implement stricter laws, better discipline, and more engaging co-curricular and sporting activities to keep students engaged and remove their minds from cults.
Veronica urged the government to integrate education about cults and their tactics into school curricula and organize awareness campaigns.
She also urged the utilisation of of media and community outreach to inform the public about the risks and consequences of cultism as well as making moral and religious education compulsory from primary to tertiary levels to instill good values.
She advised parents to pay close attention to their children’s upbringing, provide emotional and psychological support, and monitor their friends and behaviour.
She advocated the implementation and enforcement of strict laws with significant consequences, including death sentences in some cases, to deter cult activities.