At least 1,686 people were killed in 909 incidents of gang-related violence across Nigeria between January 2020 and March 2025, with the South-South and Southwest regions identified as the worst affected, according to a report released on Tuesday by SBM Intelligence.
Rivers State recorded the highest number of deaths with 215, followed by Lagos with 197 and Edo with 192. These states have long histories of cult and gang rivalries involving groups such as the Vikings, Icelanders, Eiye, Aiye, Black Axe, and Greenlanders.
The South-South region alone accounted for over 750 deaths, largely driven by violent clashes in Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa States. In the Southwest, more than 491 people were killed, mostly in Lagos and Ogun States, where recurring battles between the Aiye and Eiye confraternities were common.
In the Southeast, particularly Anambra State, over 215 deaths were linked to growing Viking and Aiye cult activities, often tied to wider separatist tensions.
Benue State in the North-Central region recorded 204 deaths, attributed to cult groups like Scavengers and Chain operating alongside communal conflicts. In contrast, the Northeast and Northwest regions saw minimal gang-related activity, with fewer than 30 deaths combined, as larger terror groups like Boko Haram and armed bandits overshadow cult operations there.
Between 2020 and early 2025, Edo, Ogun, and Delta States accounted for 490 incidents (54% of the national total) and 899 deaths (53.3% of total fatalities). Notably, a single clash in Edo State in late December 2023 between Black Axe and Eiye cultists reportedly claimed over 30 lives in one week.
Other states significantly affected include Anambra with 128 deaths, Akwa Ibom with 89, Bayelsa with 69, Osun with 55, and Kwara with 58 deaths. The report noted that unexpected spikes in gang violence in states like Osun and Kwara could be due to cult groups spreading from neighbouring states.
Meanwhile, states such as Borno, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara reported zero or very few gang-related deaths, as terrorist activities and banditry dominate their security challenges, limiting the operations of traditional gangs.
The report also highlighted that 645 incidents, which led to 1,286 deaths, were excluded from the dataset because the gangs involved could not be identified.
SBM’s data showed that 2021 was the deadliest year, with 377 deaths across 173 incidents, a spike likely tied to post-pandemic economic hardship and political unrest. This was followed by a decline in 2022, with 228 deaths from 97 incidents, possibly due to government crackdowns or temporary truces.
In 2024, the number of incidents rose to 273 — the highest for the period — but with lower fatalities per clash. The report attributed this to better reporting through social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter, which expanded coverage beyond official police reports.
It noted that worsening economic conditions continue to push more young people into crime, and that trends for the first quarter of 2025 suggest incident numbers could surpass 2022 levels. While early 2025 figures indicate a possible decline in fatalities due to intensified security measures, the report warned that Nigeria’s gang violence remains driven by economic hardship, election cycles, and fluctuating security efforts.
ADEOLA KUNLE
