Lagos, Rivers lead as cult clashes claimed 1,686 lives in five years – Report

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No fewer than 1,686 people were killed in at least 909 incidents of gang violence across Nigeria between January 2020 and March 2025, with the South-South and Southwest regions emerging as the most affected zones.

According to a report SBM Intelligence released on Tuesday, Rivers State topped the fatality chart with 215 deaths, followed by Lagos (197 deaths) and Edo (192 deaths), all strongholds of longstanding cult and gang rivalries.

The report added that these clashes often involved groups such as Vikings, Icelanders, Eiye, Aiye, Black Axe, and Greenlanders.

The report indicates that the South-South region alone recorded over 750 deaths, largely driven by violent cult rivalries in Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa.

In the Southwest, over 491 fatalities were documented, particularly in Lagos and Ogun, both witnessing recurrent clashes between the Aiye and Eiye confraternities.

The Southeast region, notably Anambra State, also witnessed significant violence, with over 215 deaths attributed to increasing Viking and Aiye cult activity, often linked to broader separatist tensions.

The North-Central region, particularly Benue State, recorded 204 deaths, with cult groups such as Scavengers and Chain operating amid ongoing communal clashes.

In contrast, the Northeast and Northwest regions experienced minimal gang-related activity, recording fewer than 30 fatalities combined.

This is largely attributed to the dominance of larger-scale terror groups like Boko Haram and bandits, which overshadow traditional gang operations.

“Nigeria’s gang landscape, the South-South and Southwest are epicentres of violence.

“The South-South leads in fatalities with over 750 deaths, driven by intense feuds between Vikings, Icelanders, and Greenlanders, particularlyin Rivers State.