The Darkest Day in the History of OAU and the Axe Man behind the Unrest

George Iwilade a.k.a Afrika

Cultism in Nigerian universities goes back in the days. To be fair to the likes of Wole Soyinka who pioneered the Pyrate Confraternity in 1952 at the University College, Ibadan and others that joined in doing the same years down the line, confraternities were mere interest groups. However, in the late 70s and early 80s, their focus shifted when the military government (of Babangida) used them as a check on student unions and university staff opposed to military rule, providing  them weapons to use against student activists according to Wikipedia. From then on, confraternities have become deadly groups. If they are not oppressing students, then they are fighting to dominate other rival groups. In fact, the cults established in the early 1990s were innumerable: Second Son of Satan (SSS), Night Cadet, Sonmen, Mgba Mgba Brothers, Temple of Eden, Trojan Horse, Jurists, White Bishops, Gentlemen Clubs, Fame, Executioners, Dreaded Friend of Friends, Eagle Club, Black Scorpion, Red Sea Horse, and Fraternity of Friends, etc.

Lanre Adeleke a.k.a Legacy 

On the night of the 10th of July, 1999, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, witnessed the most horrific cleansing of top officials of the student union government that had taken bold steps in March to end cultism on campus by leading a manhunt that identified and arrested four students stockpiling machine guns in their dorm rooms (which surprisingly was a boys' quarters that lecturers lived in), suspected to be members of the Black Axe Confraternity and handing them over to the police. While in detention for months, Prof Wole Omole, the vice-chancellor of the school frustrated the efforts of the students in their fight against cultism and refused to expel them from the school. At this point, it was clear that the Black Axe had become a tool in his hand and he was protective of them--- a view affirmed by Sociologist Emeka Akudi who noted that some university vice-chancellors protected confraternities known to be violent and used them to attack students deemed troublesome or antagonistic. It was also common place in those days to see many vice-chancellors act as grand patrons of these secret cults. Some even spearheaded their establishment like Augustine Ahiazu, the vice-chancellor of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, established Victor Charlie Boys.

In retaliation, the confraternity held meetings and recruited more hands. Some were ex-students while others were from other institutions across the country. According to eyewitness reports, kegites had a function that night on campus and the atmosphere was groovy. No one suspected a thing until few minutes after midnight when a number of cars, jeeps, stormed the campus with sporadic drive-by shootings into the air that disrupted the tranquility. At their destination, Awo Hall, about forty men armed with shotguns and axes approached the hall chanting, "We own this place...live and let us live..." before calling the names on their list. Soon, they went in and started murdering them one after the other. While Lanre Adeleke a.k.a Legacy, the SUG president narrowly escaped, George Iwilade a.k.a Africa, the general secretary and the most outspoken, was axed in his sleep. Four others were killed that night including a final year medical student. After the operation, five people had died and three more joined the list the next day due to severe injuries. Probably, from some of the students they encountered on the way to their targets.

The attack enraged students so much that they sought justice at all cost. First, they demanded the resignation of Wole Omole who had gone into hiding and mounted roadblocks to fish out the remaining cult members around. Prominent among the arrest they made was Frank Idahosa's, popularly known as Efosa. News had it that Efosa was a hit man for Black Axe and had been previously expelled from UNIBEN because of cult activities. Also, news had it that his parents were rich and influential. So when he was eventually handed over to the police, news spread that he had been secretly released and flown to France under a new identity.  

Even though posterity will judge, there is no record that any of the perpetrators were prosecuted up till now. But one thing was achieved, their blood bought the safety many students after them enjoy today.