but there is more to black axe than just brute force. lt use an alias to cover their role in society and politics. the organisation's original name, the neo—black movement of africa, is registered as a company in nigeria and around the world. the official nbm is not banned. members operate in the open, claim to be freedom fighters, donate to charity, and even elect a president. dr stone says this provides the black axe with cover. dr stone claims axemen exploit the name nbm to infiltrate the highest levels of nigerian society. they exclaim one of the most famous members of the nbm in nigerian politics is tony kabaka. officially, he's a youth leader for nigeria's ruling party, the all progressive congress. but here on the streets, they call him the godfather. they say he commands the loyalty and votes of thousands of men in benin. he claims he provides protection. kabaka has been a member of the neo—black movement since he was a young man. he says he joined seeking protection from assassins. law enforcement in benin seem beholden to kabaka

this is the heartland of the black axe mafia. , - of the black axe mafia. , benin.it has grown into one of the most feared crime syndicate in the world. in your days as a member, what was your role? i in your days as a member, what was your role?— was your role? i was the butcher _ was your role? i was the butcher stop _ was your role? i was the butcher stop what - was your role? i was the butcher stop what was i was your role? i was the i butcher stop what was the was your role? i was the - butcher stop what was the job of the butcher? to butcher stop what was the “0b of the butcher?d of the butcher? to eliminate. doctor stone _ of the butcher? to eliminate. doctor stone who _ of the butcher? to eliminate. doctor stone who is - of the butcher? to eliminate. doctor stone who is now - of the butcher? to eliminate. . doctor stone who is now working elsewhere says the x—men have infiltrated all levels of nigerian society. —— axemen. army, navy, air force. in the judiciary. army, navy, air force. in the judiciary-— judiciary. the bbc has been liven judiciary. the bbc ha

i'm on the trail of the black axe, my country's deadliest cult group. this place is incredible.ewage, but this is the only way we can access the black axe cult in makoko. it's taken months to negotiate a meeting and we have no idea what to expect. we're having to go through the back way, in order to get to this place because we can't be seen to be coming there openly. we're trying to avoid being tracked by, possibly, rival cults or even the police.

it was here where black axe first emerged 40 years ago.in your days as a member, what was your role? i was a butcher, but i became a chairman. what was thatjob of a butcher? to eliminate. dr stone, who is now working to end cult violence, says the axemen have infiltrated all levels of nigerian society. there are a lot of members in the assembly, the executive, the army, navy, the air force. they have them in the judiciary. we have people who are pastors! the bbc has been given thousands of documents that appear to 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 sen

the nigeria based �*black axe' is one of the most feared and powerful organised crime groups in the worldxemen face to face — and to find out who is behind the group. a warning that this programme contains 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. 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.

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now on bbc news, the nigeria—based black axe is one of the most feared and powerful organised crime groupsthe axemen face—to—face