Blood Feud in Anambra: Black Axe Member Arrested as Cult War Escalates in Nkwelle-Ezunaka

 

ONITSHA, Anambra State — The undercurrents of a deep-rooted and deadly cult rivalry surged into open violence this week in Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, as a brutal clash between members of the Black Axe and Eiye confraternities left two individuals dead and several others injured.

Authorities have confirmed the arrest of a key member of the Black Axe Confraternity, marking a pivotal moment in a long-standing turf war that has plagued the region. The suspect, whose name remains undisclosed by police for security reasons, was apprehended following the clash and is currently in custody, nursing a gunshot wound to his ankle sustained during the fray.

The Anambra State Police Command, through a senior officer who chose to remain anonymous, verified the incident and emphasized the gravity of the current security situation. “It’s a volatile environment. The tension is palpable. Residents are living in fear, and we are doing everything we can to prevent further bloodshed,” he said.

Sources within the police department disclosed that the suspect, during interrogation, admitted to being a full-fledged member of the Black Axe cult. He also confessed to active participation in several violent confrontations with the rival Eiye group. In a startling revelation, he reportedly identified several associates within the Black Axe network—among them, Simon Mmadukwe, Nwachukwu Oluebube Emmanuel, Somto Ikpe, Jude Nwali, Ifeanyi Uzor, and Chibuzor Obineke.

According to the suspect, tensions between the two groups have reached a tipping point, with members of the Eiye confraternity allegedly vowing to annihilate the Black Axe group entirely. This vendetta, he said, has triggered a mass exodus of cult members from Anambra to safer territories, both within Nigeria and abroad.

“Many of them are fleeing. Some have escaped to neighboring states, others even out of the country to places in Africa and Europe,” the suspect reportedly told investigators. “Those who were forced into joining or never completed their initiation rites are the first to run.”

While the motive behind the latest confrontation has not been officially disclosed, insiders say it is likely linked to an ongoing battle for dominance, territory, and retribution for previous killings on both sides. The Black Axe and Eiye confraternities, both notorious for their violent histories, have clashed repeatedly in southeastern Nigeria over the past decade.

Efforts to get an official statement from the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, were met with limited success. Ikenga stated he had not yet been briefed on the matter but assured that inquiries were underway.

Meanwhile, residents of Nkwelle-Ezunaka are caught in the crossfire of fear and uncertainty. Eyewitnesses describe a chaotic scene on the day of the incident—gunshots rang through the air, and homes were hurriedly shuttered as people ran for cover.

“The entire community was thrown into panic,” said one local, who declined to give his name for safety reasons. “We’re afraid to step out once it gets dark. Nobody wants to be caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

The police, according to the unnamed senior officer, are ramping up surveillance and deploying tactical units to track down other members involved in the mayhem. “We are committed to ensuring that every individual connected to this violence faces justice. The law will take its course.”

As the manhunt continues, the people of Nkwelle-Ezunaka and neighboring towns are hoping for swift action to stem the tide of cult-related violence—a scourge that has claimed too many lives and continues to threaten the peace and security of Anambra State.