2.6.2. Ogun

2.6.2. Ogun

Ogun state is comprised of the following 21 LGAs: Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Ado-Odo/Ota, Ewekoro, Ifo, Ijebu East, Ijebu North, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu Igbo, Ijebu Ode, Ikenne, Imeko Afon, Ipokia, Obafemi Owode, Odogbolu, Odeda, Ogun Waterside, Remo North, Sagamu, Yewa North and Yewa South. The capital city is Abeokuta.1775

The main ethnic groups are the Egba, the Ijebu, the Remo, the Egbado, the Awori and the Egun.1776

UNFPA and the US Census Bureau projected the population at 6 379 532 in 2022, based on figures from the 2006 census.1777

a) Conflict dynamics and main actors

For a general overview on actors in Nigeria, please see section 1.1 Main Actors.

In mid-January 2024, the Guardian Nigeria mentioned cult violence, kidnapping, armed robbery and ritual killings as sources of insecurity in Ogun state. Cult-related attacks appeared to occur predominantly in Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Sagamu, Ikenne and Odogbolu.1778 Punch described Ogun state as being ‘under a security siege’, with kidnappings, ritual killings, armed robbery, violent Fulani herdsmen, criminal activities, and cultism as the main challenges.1779 PLAC described several incidents of abductions and killings by unknown gunmen during 2024.1780 Vanguard pointed to at least 47 kidnappings in the period from January to August 2024,1781 and to killings by unknown gunmen in early 2025.1782

Cult-related violence was recorded during the reference period, involving rival cult groups such as the Black Axe (Aye), the Supreme Eiye Confraternity,1783 and the Buccaneer Confraternity.1784 In a report of July 2025, the research consultancy SBM Intelligence listed Ogun as a ‘high density state’ in terms of cult/gang-related violence, with 78 incidents recorded in the period from January 2020 to March 2025.1785

As of November 2024, ritual killings in Ogun state occurred at ‘alarming rates’, mainly targeting women and girls, according to the Nigerian news site THISDAY. The source further explained that rituals killings were often based on the belief that the perpetrators would get rich quickly through rituals involving human sacrifices.1786

b) Security incidents and impact on the population

In the period 1 January 2024 - 31 August 2025, ACLED recorded 140 security incidents in Ogun state, resulting in 110 fatalities. Of these security incidents, 64 were coded as battles, 20 as riots, and 56 incidents were coded as violence against civilians.1787

Security incidents were recorded by ACLED in 18 LGAs of the state, with the highest number documented in Abeokuta South LGA (27), followed by Ado-Odo LGA (19), Obafemi (15) and Odeda (10), Abeokuta North and Sagamu LGAs (9 incidents each). No incidents were recorded in three LGAs. According to ACLED, unidentified armed groups and unidentified cult militias (coded either as ‘Actor 1’ or ‘Actor 2’) were involved in the majority of security incidents coded as violence against civilians, mainly in the context of abductions and killings.1789

For example, in April 2024, a lecturer at Babcock University Ilishan, was killed by eight gunmen in an event centre in Ipero Remo (Ilkenne LGA), reportedly for refusing to go with them, while two other persons were abducted by the gunmen.1790 A security guard at the centre suspected of being involved in the incident was later arrested.1791 In another example, in August 2024, a Point of Sale (POS) operator, and son of the Baale (a traditional ruler) of Kuto, was reportedly killed by suspected cultists in Kuto, Abeokuta LGA.1792 In the period from January to June 2024, at least 24 people were killed in clashes between rival cult groups in Ogun state, according to Punch. Most of the clashes occurred between the Aiye and Black Axe (Eye) confraternities. In some clashes, members of the Buccaneer cult group were involved.1793

Conflict-related infrastructure damage – No information could be found during the reference period.

Road security - Sources pointed to kidnappings in certain areas across the state such as the Wasinmi road, the Lafenwa-Ayetoro-Imeko road, and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,1794 and armed robberies on the ‘Long Bridge’, the Sagamu-Benin Expressway and the Papalanto highway.1795 Three persons were kidnapped (and later rescued) on the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Expressway, where the attackers reportedly blocked the road with a truck.1796

Displacement, movement and return - No information could be found during the reference period.

c) State response in maintaining law and order

Measures taken by the police to address security challenges reportedly included additional patrols along ‘identified hotspots’ of kidnappings, the use of surveillance drones,1797 joint patrols of Ogun and Lagos state police along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,1798 intelligence sharing with Oyo state on the activities of suspected criminals (‘bandits’) along the border area,1799 and the recruitment of additional personnel for the Amotekun state security network.1800 Several media sources reported of successful police operations targeting suspected kidnappers and criminals,1801 also in collaboration with community vigilantes.1802

PLAC reported on several incidents of police misconduct, including gender-based violence, in 2024. In July, the operator of a betting shop was reportedly shot dead by a police officer who, according to an eye witness, was drunk.1803 The media company Nigerian NewsDirect pointed to allegations of police involvement in cult groups in Ibaragun following fights between the Eiye Confraternity and the Black Axe cult groups over control of recruitment in the community.1804 Following a series of armed robbery attacks, students of the Abeokuta Federal University announced in July 2025 that they would set up night patrols, noting that the police in the area was understaffed.1805