Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Delta State Police Command has activated a statewide intelligence-led security operation and placed its officers on red alert following credible intelligence indicating that members of the Black Axe confraternity, also known as Aye, are planning to commemorate their annual "7/7" event across the state. The police have warned that no unlawful gathering or cult-related activity will be tolerated, and anyone found participating will be arrested and prosecuted.
The command's spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Monday, 6 July 2026, stating that the event has, in previous years, been associated with cult clashes, loss of lives, and other acts capable of causing a breakdown of law and order. "The command has activated a comprehensive intelligence-led security operation to forestall any such occurrence and ensure the continued safety and security of residents across Delta State," the statement read.
The "7/7" date holds significant meaning for the Black Axe confraternity, as it is believed to commemorate the day the cult group was founded by nine students of the University of Benin. Over the years, the day has become synonymous with violent clashes, attacks, and fatalities across Nigeria. In 2021, six people were attacked in Delta State during Black Axe's founder's day celebrations, while in 2016, eleven people were reportedly killed in Sagamu, Ogun State, in an attack by suspected cult members marking the same date.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Department of Operations to coordinate the operation. All Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Commanders have been ordered to intensify intelligence gathering, surveillance, visibility policing, and sustained raids on identified criminal hideouts, black spots, and other locations suspected to be used for unlawful gatherings.
Officers have also been directed to maintain robust patrols and strategic deployments across the state to deny criminal elements any opportunity to operate. The police command warned that no unlawful gathering or cult-related activity will be tolerated, stressing that anyone found participating in cult activities or any act capable of breaching public peace will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The command emphasised that all operations will be intelligence-led, professionally conducted, and carried out in strict compliance with extant laws and with due respect for the rights of law-abiding citizens. The Commissioner of Police reassured residents of the command's unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible, timely information to the police. He assured residents that all reports would be treated with the utmost confidentiality and acted upon promptly.
The operation comes amid a broader crackdown on cultism in Delta State. In June 2026 alone, the command arrested 32 suspected cultists and recovered firearms, ammunition, and illicit drugs in separate intelligence-led operations across the state. In a related development, operatives of the Command's Anti-Cult Unit raided a suspected criminal hideout in Azagba-Ogwashi on 14 June 2026, arresting seven suspected cultists and recovering one double-barrelled gun, two live cartridges, and illicit drugs.
The Neo Black Movement (NBM) of Africa Worldwide, the organisation from which the Black Axe confraternity is believed to have splintered, has previously distanced itself from the "7/7" celebrations. In a statement issued on Monday, 6 July 2026, the NBM reiterated that it remains a separate and distinct legal entity from the group commonly referred to as Black Axe, maintaining that the two organisations are not connected in any way.
As Delta State braces for the annual cult commemoration, the police command has made it clear that it will not allow the celebration of criminality to disrupt public peace. The message from the Commissioner of Police is unequivocal: those who choose to mark the day with violence will face the full weight of the law. With intelligence-led operations already underway and officers on high alert, the command is determined to ensure that the "7/7" event does not degenerate into the bloodshed that has marred previous years. Residents are urged to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities, as the command remains committed to protecting lives and property across the state.
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