Join, Die or Run’: Report Exposes Deadly Grip of Cult Groups Across Nigeria

By Elijah Adeyemi Cultism has remained a serious concern in many parts of Nigeria. A disturbing new recent investigative report has painted a grim picture of the situation, revealing how thousands of young people are forced into violent secret societies through intimidation, deception, kidnapping and fear, while those who attempt to leave often face death threats, violent reprisals and lifelong persecution.

The report, titled “Why Nigerians Who Flee Cult Violence Cannot Safely Return Home,” draws from findings by international organisations, academic researchers, security experts and investigative journalists to argue that cult-related violence has become one of Nigeria’s most entrenched security challenges, with devastating consequences for victims and their families.

According to the report, cult groups, commonly known as confraternities or cult mafias, have evolved far beyond their origins in tertiary institutions and now operate across communities, political circles, security agencies and even judicial institutions.

Citing data compiled by NaijaConfra and published by The Africa Report, cult-related violence in Nigeria claimed about 10,000 lives between 1996 and 2019.

The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) documented 328 cult-related deaths across Nigeria in 2024 alone, with Anambra State recording the highest number of fatalities at 88. Lagos and Rivers states also featured prominently among affected areas.

One of the deadliest incidents occurred on March 31, 2024, when a violent cult clash in Awka, Anambra State, left 13 people dead, including a member of the state’s judiciary.

The EUAA further noted that cult violence resulted in 442 fatalities and 290 kidnappings in 2017, while approximately 1,863 deaths were linked to student cult activities between 2006 and 2014.

The report argues that these figures demonstrate that cultism is not a temporary problem but a long-standing and evolving national crisis.

Contrary to the common perception that individuals freely choose cult membership, the report maintains that many recruits are forced into the groups through threats, coercion and outright violence.

The EUAA, whose country guidance documents are used by European governments when assessing asylum applications, states that recruitment and initiation rituals may involve kidnapping and coercion.

Potential recruits are reportedly forced to commit crimes as part of the initiation process.

The report highlights growing concerns about the spread of cultism among younger age groups.

One widely publicised case involved a 12-year-old Lagos student who allegedly died after being tortured by senior students for refusing to join a cult group, reigniting national concerns about cult recruitment in secondary schools.

The report notes that cult groups increasingly target vulnerable young people, using aggressive recruitment tactics that begin long before university age.

Unfortunately, refusing recruitment can be fatal. Perhaps most alarming is the report’s assertion that refusing to join a cult can carry deadly consequences.

It references a statement by the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, who disclosed during a public event in 2024 that a student had recently been killed for refusing to become a cult member.

The report argues that such incidents are not isolated but form part of a wider pattern documented across several states.

According to the findings, forced recruitment has become a recognised feature of cult operations in Nigeria.

The report identifies poverty, unemployment, frustration and peer pressure as major factors making young Nigerians vulnerable to recruitment.

Researchers cited in the document argue that cult groups deliberately exploit these vulnerabilities by offering false promises of jobs, protection, financial assistance and social belonging.

Many recruits, the report says, discover too late that the promises are merely tools used to lure them into criminal networks.

An investigation by The Africa Report quoted a former cult member who said he was deceived into joining with promises of support and opportunities, only to find himself drawn into violence and criminality.

For many members, the report states, joining a cult becomes a lifelong sentence.

Drawing on findings from the EUAA and the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, the report says exiting cult groups is often extremely difficult and may attract violent retaliation.

Former members are frequently viewed as security threats because they possess knowledge of the group’s operations and secrets, as a result, deserters may become targets for assassination.

The report specifically highlights the notorious Black Axe confraternity, noting that initiates are often subjected to severe beatings and forced to swear oaths of loyalty.

In some cases, recruits are reportedly compelled to commit violent crimes before being accepted into the organisation.

The report quotes a former member identified as Kingsley, who publicly renounced cultism but continued to live in fear.

According to him, rival groups and former associates continued to pursue him, believing he had betrayed the organisation.

One of the report’s strongest conclusions is that many cult organisations do not recognise resignation.

Whether an individual joined voluntarily or under duress, cult groups often consider membership permanent.

Former members who flee are frequently labelled traitors and become targets for revenge attacks.

The report cites multiple sources, including former cultists, police officers and security analysts, all of whom describe membership as a lifelong commitment enforced through fear and violence.

The report also raises concerns about the ability of Nigerian authorities to protect victims.

Citing investigations by BBC Africa Eye and other organisations, it alleges that cult groups have infiltrated influential sectors of society, including politics, law enforcement, the judiciary and religious institutions.

One BBC Africa Eye investigation quoted a journalist who claimed that some high-profile figures within the police, judiciary and clergy have links to cult groups, making prosecution difficult.

The report further references claims that law enforcement investigations into suspected cult members have sometimes been halted due to interference from senior officials.

Despite existing legislation such as the Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Act, the report argues that enforcement remains weak and inconsistent.

Another key finding is that relocation within Nigeria may not guarantee safety for those fleeing cult threats.

According to the report, major cult groups such as Black Axe, Vikings, Eiye and Maphites maintain networks that stretch across multiple states and, in some cases, beyond Nigeria’s borders.

Academic studies cited in the document argue that cultism has spread from university campuses into neighbourhoods, workplaces, places of worship and communities across the country.

Researchers also point to documented activities of Nigerian cult groups in countries including Italy, South Africa, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.

The report further alleges that some cult groups enjoy protection from powerful political actors.

It cites findings from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which documented claims that politicians and traditional rulers have used cult members during elections for activities such as ballot box theft and political intimidation.

According to the report, such relationships have enabled cult groups to acquire weapons, funding and influence, making them more difficult to dismantle.

The report argues that cult violence has become a deeply rooted security and human rights issue in Nigeria.

It maintains that individuals targeted by cult groups—including those who refuse recruitment, those who joined under pressure, former members and witnesses—often remain at risk long after leaving their communities.

The report calls attention to what it describes as a cycle of coercion, violence and impunity that continues to fuel the spread of cultism across the country, warning that without stronger enforcement, protection for victims and decisive action against criminal networks, the threat is likely to persist.