Nigeria: Hacked documents show presence of Black Axe wielding political influence: Report

Black Axe mafia gang operating from Nigeria has infiltrated country's political system and carried out scams spreading well beyond  national borders. most-feared organised crime syndicate has been active in Nigeria for decades and BBC has laid hands on several leaked documents, which indicated involvement of prominent politicians and businessmen with "cult" group outlawed in African continent. Among most teworthy findings were emails that revealed 2019 APC party candidate for political office, Augustus Bemigho was a senior member of Black Axe gang and orchestrated millions of dollars worth of internet scams.

"We have removed him close to 1millon dollars," one email sent to Bemigho said, as quoted by BBC. mail also contained full name, contact details and instructions to claim amount. As per report, Bemigho scammed two victims from mails indicating that y were defrauded around $3.3 million.

mails also had graphics of violent acts carried out by gang, which were too ghastly to publish. data obtained from mails clearly painted a picture of gang's actions from 2009 to 2019. Additionally, in-depth and shocking presence of Nigerian Black Axe in state politics of its region has also emerged in documents collected.

Mafia politics

As per BBC, in Benin City, approximately £64,000 (Rs 64 lakh) was funnelled into Neo-Black Movement of Africa (NBM) to "protect votes" and secure victory of goverr in 2012 elections. tably, NBM is a registered company in Nigeria considered by some western law enforcement to be similar to Black Axe. documents suggested that "80 slots were allocated to NBM Benin Zone for immediate employment by state government." An activist in Benin City, Kurtis Ogebebor, described current political scenario of Nigeria as "mafia politics."

"Cultism seems to be at all levels of our government, from lowest to highest. You find m everywhere," Ogebebor, who works to prevent young people from being recruited by gangs like Black Axe, told BBC.

Meanwhile, NBM has strongly denied involvement with gangs like Black Axe, saying that group members are "expelled immediately" on proved association with cults. Locally in Nigeria, Black Axe is kwn for punk crimes and brutality with alleged links to politics. Although, international investigation organisations like Interpol and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), have suggested orwise. In recent months, more than 35 NBM members have been arrested in US and South Africa on charges of fraud worth millions of dollars.

(Im: Unsplash (representative)