Between January 2020 and March 2025, at least 1,686 people were killed in 909 incidents of cult and gang violence across Nigeria, with the South-South and South-West regions enduring the highest toll.
Rivers State led the fatalities chart with 215 deaths, trailed by Lagos (197) and Edo (192), according to SBM Intelligence’s latest Violence Tracker report.
The study highlights clashes among confraternities such as Vikings, Icelanders, Eiye, Aiye, Black Axe, and Greenlanders—often fueled by territorial disputes and political patronage. “Nigeria’s gang landscape is dominated by intense feuds in the South-South, recording over 750 deaths, and the South-West, with more than 491 fatalities,” the report stated .
In the Southeast, Anambra State saw 215 deaths tied to Viking and Aiye rivalries amid separatist undercurrents, while the North-Central region—led by Benue State—recorded 204 fatalities involving local groups like Scavengers and Chain. By contrast, the Northeast and Northwest together suffered fewer than 30 cult-related deaths, as larger terror outfits overshadow traditional gangs.
Yearly trends reveal a peak in deadly clashes in 2021, with 377 fatalities from 173 incidents, likely worsened by post-pandemic economic hardship.
In 2024, incidents surged to 273—sparked partly by democratized reporting on social media—though with a slightly lower death rate per event. Early 2025 suggests a possible downturn due to intensified security operations, but analysts warn the crisis remains far from over.
“Economic deprivation and election cycles have amplified gang recruitment, while uneven security responses have allowed groups to regroup,” SBM Intelligence added. Edo, Ogun, and Delta states collectively accounted for over half of all incidents (490) and fatalities (899), with single clashes sometimes claiming dozens of lives—such as a December 2023 Black Axe-Eiye showdown in Edo.
The report urges a multi-faceted approach combining targeted policing, community engagement, and socio-economic interventions to dismantle criminal networks. As Nigeria prepares for future elections, stakeholders emphasize the urgency of credible data, cross-sector collaboration, and sustained investment in youth empowerment to curb the deadly toll of cult violence.
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