Gladness Gideon
A self-confessed member of the Black Axe Confraternity has disclosed to police that intensifying threats from the rival Eiye cult group have forced many of his colleagues to flee Anambra State, seeking refuge in Europe and other parts of Africa.
The suspect, whose name was withheld for security reasons, was apprehended by police operatives following a deadly clash between the two cult groups in Nkwelle-Ezunaka community, Oyi Local Government Area. The confrontation, which reportedly erupted in a violent gun duel, left two individuals dead and several others injured, including the suspect who sustained a gunshot wound to the ankle.
According to police sources, the confrontation is part of a long-standing and increasingly volatile rivalry between Black Axe and Eiye confraternities, a conflict that security operatives say has spiraled dangerously in recent months.
During interrogation, the suspect disclosed the identities of other Black Axe members, naming individuals such as Mmadukwe, Oluebube, Ikpe, Nwali, Uzor, and Obineke, among others. He revealed that several of them had already escaped Anambra, fearing for their lives amid Eiye’s escalating campaign of violence.
“They fled to other parts of Nigeria, some to Europe, others to nearby African countries,” the suspect said. “Many of them were either forced into the group or hadn’t been fully initiated, so they chose to run rather than risk being killed.”
The cultist further claimed that Eiye members have vowed to wipe out Black Axe presence in the state, prompting a wave of fear-driven displacement within the confraternity’s ranks.
When contacted for comments, Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said he was not immediately aware of the incident but promised to verify the report and revert.
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However, a senior police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the arrest and the deadly altercation, noting that the recent upsurge in cult-related violence has left many residents of Nkwelle-Ezunaka living in fear.
“The tension is palpable. Innocent people are afraid and often scamper for safety at the slightest hint of violence,” the officer said. “But we are on top of the situation. Security has been reinforced, and we are working diligently to track down the remaining perpetrators.”
The officer added that both cult groups involved in the ongoing crisis would be held accountable under the law, as the command intensifies efforts to restore calm and safeguard lives and property in affected communities.
The Anambra State Police Command urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that can assist in the arrest of cultists destabilizing the peace of the region.