A young graduate from Jattu, Edo State, Oshionebo Josiah Oshiayemhe, is pleading for protection after narrowly surviving an assassination attempt by members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, a notorious cult group he once belonged to.
Oshiayemhe, who graduated in 2023, recounted that he was lured into the cult on December 19, 2024, by a childhood friend who promised him lucrative job opportunities and a better life. However, within months, he realized that the promises were false.
“When I confronted my friend, he told me I had taken a blood oath and that leaving would cost me my life,” Oshiayemhe said.
On February 14, 2025, he was allegedly ordered to participate in an assassination plot targeting a prominent Edo politician. Refusing to comply, he sought help from his church’s Reverend Father, who counseled him and guided him to renounce the cult. On May 6, 2025, Oshiayemhe publicly denounced his membership in the Supreme Vikings Confraternity.
The decision came at a heavy price. He began receiving death threats, and following a violent clash between the Vikings and their rival cult, the Black Axe (Aye), in June 2025, he was accused of betraying the group.
On June 25, 2025, Oshiayemhe was ambushed and shot by suspected Vikings members. Good Samaritans rushed him to a hospital, saving his life.
Fearing further attacks, he fled to Abuja on June 30, 2025, but the threats have persisted.
“I have surrendered my life to Christ, but I still live in constant fear for my safety. I am appealing to security agencies to protect me,” he said.
Authorities have yet to comment on the incident, but Oshiayemhe’s case highlights the dangers faced by individuals attempting to leave violent cult groups in Nigeria.