axemen don't want this information getting out.s: in one year, - i received 200, 300 death threats. these people are capable of the most horrific crimes. i knew that investigating the nbm was a dangerous business, but myjourney was nearly over and i needed answers. after weeks of negotiation, the president of the neo—black movement agreed to meet me. i had to ask him, face—to—face, if the nbm is the real power behind the black axe. we've gotten a couple of security operatives to go with us. we have an armed escort at the back. i mean, i would be lying if i said that i'm not slightly concerned, especially when the allegations are put in front of him. the nbm came in force. the newly—elected president, ese kakor, was accompanied by two lawyers. behind me, the boys filmed our every move. the president was quick to dismiss any suggestion the nbm is a front for black axe. some people say that the neo—black movement of africa is actually a smokescreen for the black axe. how do you react to that? i then show them evidence their former lea

the axemen had been drinking and some were high on drugs.ck axe have a strict code, enforced with violence. leaked footage shows a member punished for breaking the rules. new recruits are beaten and tortured during initiations. they are then forced to swear an oath of secrecy. black axe ideology blends old nigerian religion with anti—colonial activism. the brotherhood claim they are fighting oppression. these men claim that they are fighting forjustice, but i've seen the reality of cult violence on the streets. somewhere around here, about 2k years ago, i witnessed a murder of a young man by a cultist group. his name was dapo. we grew up together. i was on my way home and i could hear somebody wailing. he kept crying. he was delirious, and i followed them and i saw a body lying face down. there was this kind of pool of blood on the floor and i realised that i was actually standing on his blood. cultists shot my friend, dapo, in the chest. the killers have never been caught. the memory of that night still haunts me. today, the cults are even

peter macjob went on a journey to meet the axemen face to face and to find out who is behind the groupains scenes which viewers may find upsetting. this morning several bodies found with their heads - decapitated were littered around the city. - 13 people have been killed in cult—related killings - within the past week. a secret death cult is thriving in nigeria. more terrifying than anything i've ever seen. they've been accused of countless murders at home and abroad. around the world, crime agencies are cracking down on their multimillion dollar internet fraud and human trafficking network. screaming nigerians are trying to fight back, too. shouting but here in their homeland, the cults seem unstoppable. and thousands of young lives have been destroyed. after 20 years abroad, i've come back to nigeria to investigate this deadly mafia. screaming how have they become so powerful? are politicians behind the violence? who are the men in the shadows, pulling the strings? makoko, one of the largest slums in nigeria. i'm on the trail of the black axe, my country's deadliest cult group. this

peter macjob went on a journey to meet the axemen face—to—face

. —— axemen. army, navy, air force. in the judiciary. army, navy, air force.judiciary. the bbc has been given thousands _ judiciary. the bbc has been given thousands of - judiciary. the bbc has been i given thousands of documents that appear to back up allegations that politicians are involved. this is a member of the ruling party in nigeria. the evidence suggest he was once the head of black axe and orchestrated millions of dollars of internet fraud. he is the head _ dollars of internet fraud. he: is the head of a criminal organisation. that is a scandal that he can run for politics. this man is the source of the linked data. he hides his identity for safety. i have received _ identity for safety. i have received 300 _ identity for safety. i have received 300 different i identity for safety. i have received 300 different in| identity for safety. i have i received 300 different in one year. these people are capable of the most horrific crimes. the f the irs and more than 35 black axe in the us and south africa, charged with multimillion dollar internet fraud.

dr stone, who is now working to end cult violence, says the axemen have infiltrated all levels of nigeriano back up allegations politicians are involved. this is augustus bemigho, a member of the ruling apc party in nigeria. the evidence suggests he was once the head of black axe and orchestrated millions of dollars of internet fraud. he's the head of a criminal organisation. that is a scandal, that the head of a criminal organisation can run for politics. this man is the source of the leaked data. he hides his identity for safety. in one year, i received 2—300 death threats. these people are capable of the most horrific crimes. we sent our allegations to bemigo and he never responded. the fbi arrested more than 35 black axe members in the us and south africa, charged with multi—million dollar internet fraud. the black axe are no longer just a nigerian gang. the criminal organisation has gone global. peter macjob, bbc news, benin city. brave reporting. plenty more on the africa investigation on the bbc website at bbc new stock. stay with us on bbc news. still to come... in britain, there's