According to a new analysis by SBM Intelligence, between January 2020 and March 2025, at least 909 gang violent episodes occurred in Nigeria, killing at least 1,686 persons.
The study, which was made public on Tuesday, reportedly depicted a bleak image of gang and cult-related conflicts that were raging across many states, with the greatest number of fatalities occurring in Rivers, Lagos, and Edo.
With 215 recorded fatalities, Rivers State led the list, followed by Lagos with 197 and Edo with 192, according to the SBM Intelligence report. These numbers highlight the rising violence associated with cult battles in urban and semi-urban areas.
The cult groups of Vikings, Icelanders, Eiye, Aiye, Black Axe, and Greenlanders were among the primary protagonists in these conflicts, according to the research.
According to the research, “the South-South leads in fatalities with over 750 deaths, driven by intense feuds between Vikings, Icelanders, and Greenlanders, particularly in Rivers State.”
Worst Hit in the South-South, Southwest
More than 750 people were killed in the South-South zone, and 491 people were killed in the Southwest, particularly in Lagos and Ogun, where the Aiye and Eiye fraternities have frequently clashed.
Over 215 people were killed in the Southeast, mostly in Anambra, where separatist-related turmoil is thought to have combined with violent cult activity.
The report stated that “the Southeast is also extremely lethal (215+ deaths), with notable Viking and Aiye activity in Anambra.”
In Benue State alone, cult-related violence claimed 204 lives, with continuous communal clashes including lesser-known organizations like Scavengers and Chain.
The article cited a number of flashpoints, such as a fatal conflict in Edo in December 2023 between Black Axe and Eiye cultists that reportedly claimed over 30 lives in a single week.
Edo, Ogun, and Delta States were accountable for 490 occurrences, or 54% of all cult violence in the country, and 899 fatalities, or more than half of all deaths reported, between 2020 and the beginning of 2025.
Nearly Zero Cult Deaths in Borno, Zamfara, and Kebbi
As a result of armed banditry and terrorism taking precedence over typical cult activities, the Northeast and Northwest regions combined saw less than 30 fatalities, according to the report.
“States like Borno, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara reported zero or minimal fatalities primarily because terrorist groups dominate their security challenges,” the report stated.
Sharp increases in cult-related homicides were also observed in other states, including Akwa Ibom (89 deaths), Bayelsa (69), Osun (55), and Kwara (58), indicating that gang networks have expanded beyond of their usual borders.
The Deadliest Year for Gang Violence in 2021
According to SBM’s Violence Tracker, 2021 had 377 fatalities from 173 occurrences, making it the bloodiest year throughout the review period. Political turmoil and post-COVID suffering were cited by analysts as the causes of the surge.
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Although there were fewer average deaths per collision, the number of events peaked in 2024 with 273 incidences.
The research went on to say, “This surge might be attributed to the democratization of reporting through social media platforms like TikTok and 𝕏 (formerly Twitter), moving incident accounts beyond traditional police releases.”
In comparison, 2022 saw a decline with 228 fatalities from 97 occurrences, most likely as a result of short-term ceasefires and security measures.
The survey also suggested that more young people are joining cult groups as a survival strategy, connecting the increase in violence to Nigeria’s deteriorating economy.
Although SBM cautioned that recent heightened security efforts may halt the increase, incident counts for the first quarter of 2025 are already on course to surpass the total for 2022.
Even while there are occasional variations from year to year, the general trend indicates ongoing instability connected to cult rivalries, financial difficulties, and lax law enforcement in urban slums.
