Confraternities in Nigeria are secretive student groups within Nigerian higher education.
Men's confraternities
| Confraternity | Nickname | Date founded | Institution | Location | Status | References |
| Aborigine Ogboni Fraternity | | | | Imesi-Ile, Osun State, Nigeria | Active | [1] |
| Big Five | | Early 1990s | Rivers State University | Port Harcourt, Nigeria | | [2] |
| Black Axe | | July 7, 1977 | University of Benin | Benin City, Nigeria | Active | [3][4][5][6][7][8][a] |
| Black Cobra of Ife | | | | Ife, Nigeria | Active | [7] |
| Black Scorpion | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
| Blood Spot | | | | Nigeria | Active | [7] |
| Brotherhood of the Blood | Two-Two, Black Beret | Early 1990s | Enugu State University of Science and Technology | Enugu, Nigeria | | [2] |
| Buccaneers Confraternity (aka National Association of Sea Lords) | Fine Boys, Ban Boys, Alora, Bucketmen, Lords | 1972 | University of Ibadan | Ibadan, Nigeria | Active | [4][2][7][b] |
| Deby Na debt (Eternal Fraternity Order of Legion Consortium) | Deebam, Klansmen | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2][7][c] |
| Deewell | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2][d] |
| Dreaded Friend of Friends | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
| Eagle Club | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
| Eternal Fraternal Order of the Legion Consortium (aka Klan Konfraternity) | KK | 1983 | University of Calabar | Calabar, Nigeria | | [3][2][9] |
| Executioners | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
| Fame | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
| Fraternity of Friends | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | Active | [2] |
| Green Circuit Association International | Maphite | 1978 | University of Benin | Benin City, Nigeria | Active | [10] |
| Gentlemen Clubs | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
| Jurists | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
| Icelanders | German | | | Nigeria | | |
| Mbacho | | Early 1990s | Rivers State University | Port Harcourt, Nigeria | | [2] |
| Mgba Mgba Brothers | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | Active | [2][7] |
| National Association of Seadogs | Pyrates | 1952 | University College, Ibadan | Kubwa, Abuja, | Active | |
| Night Cadet | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
| Neo Black Movement of Africa | NBM of Africa | July 7, 1977 | University of Benin | Benin City, Nigeria | Active | [3][4][6][7] |
| Ogboni | | Before 1895 | | Nigeria | Active | |
| The Outlaws | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2][e] |
| Red Sea Horse | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | Active | [2][7] |
| Sea Cults | | Late 1960s | | Nigeria | | [7][f] |
| Second Son of Satan | SSS | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
| Sonmen | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
| Snow Men | | | | Nigeria | Active | [7] |
| Supreme Eiye Confraternity (aka National Association of Airlords) | SEC, NAA, Air Lords, Fliers, Airforce | 1963 | University of Ibadan | Ibadan, Nigeria | Active | [7][6][9][4][g] |
| Supreme Vikings Confraternity (aka De Norsemen Kclub of Nigeria) | SVC, Adventurers, Aro-mates, Vultures | 1984 | University of Port Harcourt | Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Active | [9][2][4][7][h] |
| Temple of Eden | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
| Trojan Horse | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
| Victor Charlie Boys | | Early 1990s | Rivers State University of Science and Technology | Port Harcourt, Nigeria | | [2] |
| White Bishops | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
- ^ Black Axe originally operated as a subsection of the Neo Black Movement of Africa. However, NBM has publicly disassociated from Black Axe.
- ^ Formed by members who were expelled from the Pyrate Confraternity.
- ^ Formed as Deebam, a street arm of KK.
- ^ Street arm of SVC.
- ^ Formed as an offshoot of Icelanders (German).
- ^ Formed by members of the Pyrate Confraternity.
- ^ This was originally formed at EIYE Group. The word "eiye" means "bird" in the Yorba language.
- ^ Formed by former members of the Buccaneers. It was originally called the De Norsemen Club of Nigeria. It moved to the University of Port Harcourt in 1985.
Women's confraternities
| Confraternity | Nickname | Date founded | Institution | Location | Status | References |
| Black Brazier (aka Neo Black Queens of Africa) | Bra Bra, Axe Queens, AYE | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | Active | [2][7] |
| Damsel | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
| Daughters of Jezebel | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
| Jezebel | Amazons | | | Nigeria | | [11] |
| Knights of the Aristos | | | | Nigeria | | [7] |
| Lady of Rose | | | | Nigeria | | [7] |
| Marine Girls | | | | Nigeria | | [7] |
| Pink Lady | | | | Nigeria | | [7] |
| Royal Queens | | | | Nigeria | | [7] |
| Sisterhood of Darkness | | | | Nigeria | | [7] |
| Supreme Blue Angles | Eiye Confraternity | | | Nigeria | Active | [7] |
| Viqueens | | Early 1990s | | Nigeria | | [2] |
| White Angel | | | | Nigeria | | [7] |
| Woman Brassier | Brave | | | Nigeria | | [7] |
Coed confraternities
- ^ Was originally called Palm Wine Drinkers Association.
References
- ^ "About Us". Aborigine Ogboni Fraternity. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad Wellington, Bestman (July 6, 2007). "Nigeria's Cults and their Role in the Niger Delta Insurgency". Terrorism Monitor. 5 (13). Archived from the original on March 20, 2022 – via The Jamestown Foundation.
- ^ a b c "Cults of violence". The Economist. July 31, 2008. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ a b c d e Oyibo, Helen (2020-06-02). "Nigeria's campus cults: Buccaneers, Black Axe and other feared groups". BBC. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ "The Black Axe". faz.net. 17 August 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ a b c Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (8 April 2016) Nigeria: The Eiye confraternity, including origin, purpose, structure, membership, recruitment methods, activities and areas of operation; state response via UNHCR, Accessed 30 May 2023
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Walubengo, Peris (2022-07-20). "Types of cultism in Nigeria, groups, their symbols and meanings". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Archived from the original on December 2, 2019. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ Williams, Sean. "The Black Axe: Cannabis returns to Kathmandu". Harper's Magazine. Vol. September 2019. ISSN 0017-789X. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ a b c Akinosho, Lekan (August 9, 2008). "The Role of Confraternities In Nation-Building: Nigeria As Case Study (The Text of Speech Delivered by Akin Ogunlola at the First Annual Converge of National Association of Airl Lords (N.A.A.) Canada Chapter)". gamji.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ "Inside the Maphite Nigerian Mafia Gang".PM News Nigeria. 19 July 2019. Accessed 13 May 2024.
- ^ Rotimi, Adewale. "Violence in the Citadel: The Menace of Secret Cults in the Nigerian Universities" (PDF)., Nordic Journal of African Studies vol. 14, no.1 (2004): 81.