Recent cult clashes in Lagos and Ogun states have resulted in a number of deaths and arrests.1
In Lagos, a clash between rival groups in the Onireke and Isashi areas led to one death and the arrest of five suspects.2 Police recovered weapons, including locally-made pistols and pump-action guns.3 In another incident in the Mushin area of Lagos, a 12-year-old boy was killed by a stray bullet during a violent confrontation between cult groups.4
In Ogun State, the Commissioner of Police confirmed that eight people were killed during a four-day period of cult clashes in the Sagamu area.5 Police arrested nine suspects in connection with the violence, which was reportedly triggered by a dispute over a land transaction. Previous clashes in Sagamu and Abeokuta have also been reported, with residents living in fear.6
The clashes are often attributed to rivalry between groups such as the Aiye and Eiye confraternities.7 These groups, though originally formed as student associations, have evolved into criminal organizations involved in violence and other illegal activities.
In response to the growing problem, police commands in both states have reiterated their commitment to eradicating cultism and urged residents to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.8 Lagos State has also enacted the “Unlawful Societies and Cultism in Lagos State Law 2021,” which makes it a criminal offense to be a member of or to support a cult group.9
