If the recent report by SBM Intelligence is anything to go by, the governments of Rivers and Lagos States must urgently intensify their crackdown on cult-related violence. The report, released last Tuesday, revealed that Rivers State recorded the highest number of fatalities from cult clashes with 215 deaths, closely followed by Lagos with 197, and Edo with 192. Overall, 1,686 people were killed in 909 documented gang-related incidents across Nigeria between January 2020 and March 2025.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

And to think these figures only account for cult-related violence linked to identifiable groups!

A deeper breakdown of the SBM Intelligence report shows that 750 deaths were recorded in three South-South states—primarily Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa—while 491 fatalities occurred in Lagos and Ogun States within the South-West region.

The South-East hasn’t been spared either, recording 215 deaths, with Anambra State emerging as a hotspot where cultism is increasingly intertwined with separatist movements.

According to SBM, dominant cult groups wreaking havoc in the South-South and South-West include Vikings, Icelanders, Eiye, Aiye, Black Axe, and Greenlanders. Meanwhile, in Benue State (North-Central), Scavengers and Chain cult groups were responsible for 204 deaths, with related activity spilling into neighbouring states like Kwara and Nasarawa.

In Anambra alone, 128 deaths were linked to a mix of gang-related and separatist-inspired violence.

Interestingly, the North-East and North-West regions recorded far fewer cult-related fatalities—roughly 30 deaths combined—likely because these areas are already plagued by other forms of insecurity, leaving little room for conventional gang violence.

We won’t drown you in more statistics.

But it’s worth noting that, according to the report, 2025 is already on track to surpass 2022’s total, driven by worsening economic hardship that’s pushing more youths into crime. That should scare anyone, especially because these cult clashes often claim not just the lives of gang members but also innocent civilians and security personnel caught in the crossfire.

While economic hardship alone doesn’t fully explain the cultism crisis, it undeniably plays a key role. Cult groups have become breeding grounds for miscreants, largely because accountability is rare. As long as there’s impunity, recruitment will continue. To truly dismantle the system, we must address the root causes—especially youth unemployment.

Some states are beginning to rise to the challenge. Lagos, for instance, has rolled out various youth-targeted programmes in partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and UNDP, providing skills training, internships, and job placement opportunities.

However, these efforts must be scaled up to absorb more young people from the streets and unemployment queues. Other state governments must also devise homegrown strategies to tackle cultism through both preventive and punitive measures.

Only when states aggressively enforce laws and provide viable alternatives will it be easier to separate those genuinely seeking a better life from those intent on criminality. For too long, cultists have been coddled. When they kill, it’s not cultism—it’s murder. They must face justice accordingly.

If Nigeria continues to allow its future leaders to believe that cultism is a path to power, protection, or prosperity, then the country is truly sitting on a ticking time bomb.

”NIVONEWS REPORTS’