The NBM in a statement issued on Saturday in Lagos State by its National Public Relations Officer, Oluwatosin Dixon, decried a recent report in some media outlets linking it with Black Axe.
The Neo-Black Movement of Africa (NBM) has disassociated itself from Black Axe, a cult group operating in Nigerian tertiary institutions and parts of the country.
The NBM in a statement issued on Saturday in Lagos State by its National Public Relations Officer, Oluwatosin Dixon, decried a recent report in some media outlets linking it with Black Axe.
The linkage followed the arrest of a suspected kidnapper, armed robber and cultist, identified as Abdul-Azeez Ibrahim, aka Butcher, identified as the hit man and armourer for the NBM of Africa, aka Black Axe, by the Nigeria police at Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed Ibrahim’s arrest in a post on his X handle on Monday, had identified the suspect as the hit man and armourer for the Neo Black Movement of Africa, aka Black Axe.
Adejobi explained that the suspect was an extra-year student of Tai Solarin University of Education in Ijebu Ode.
But the NBM of Africa in its reaction said that its name and modus operandi are visibly different from Black Axe Confraternity.
The Movement said, "Linking the said Abdul-Azeez Ibrahim with our organisation, NBM Of Africa whose nomenclature and modus operandi are visibly different from Black Axe Confraternity is the height of insult, aberration and character assassination of our Pan-Africanist movement.”
The Movement added that “To this end, we unequivocally submit here that the said Mr. Abdul-Azeez Ibrahim is not and has never been a member of NBM of Africa, hence, nobody/person or agency/government should link him with our positive and progressive organisation.
“We restate categorically that NBM of Africa is not in any way related to Black Axe Confraternity to warrant using the name as 'alias'.
“For the avoidance of doubt, NBM of Africa is not a faceless and criminal organisation. It is a properly Registered Pan-African organisation.
“NBM of Africa as a law-abiding organisation will or shall never support criminal activities or elements.
“We view this recent claim in the media as not only malicious, defamatory, libelous, and misleading but also an affront and slander against the integrity and reputation of NBM of Africa built over the years.
“We are of the strong opinion without equivocation or contradiction that whoever commits crime anywhere in the world should be made to face the full weight of the law.
“The non-governmental organisation urged the media to be accurate, objective and maintain the ethical standards of the journalism profession always.”