The BBC has since called Black Axe a "mafia-style gang", known to engage in activities such as cybercrime, election fraud, human trafficking, illegal drug trading, intimidation, and violence.

On 10 July 1999, forty Black Axe members were involved in the Obafemi Awolowo University massacre, in Ifẹ, Osun State, in which five students were killed and eleven were injured.

On July 7, 1977, nine students from the University of Benin, led by Nicholas Idemudia started the Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBM), a male brotherhood focused on "intellectual radicalism in pursuit of Pan-African struggles.

"[1][2][3] Adopting a logo of a black axe "smashing the shackles of colonialism," the NBM was a response to the Pyrates reported excesses.

[6] As the Black Axe expanded and its violence increased, the 1994 graduating members decided to separate the confraternity from the University of Benin.

[10][5] In April 2024, reporter Biaca Bridger wrote, "Due to the secretive nature of the group it is difficult to ascertain the alleged links between the Neo-Black Movement and Black Axe.

However, throughout Nigeria, the two groups are synonymous, with their members taking part in organized crime, human trafficking and money laundering.

[3][5] Before recruitment and initiation, the potential members must sign an "oath of secrecy," pledging that they would never reveal any information to non-members or violate the group's rules.

It is claimed that "the Axemen are stripped naked and forced to lie in mud while enduring severe physical abuse, crawl through their tormentors' legs in a process known as ‚devil's passage,‘ and drink blood.

"[13] Some of the documents in his emails show that in Benin City, 35 million naira ($85,000; £64,000) was directed to the Black Axe to secure votes in 2012.

In 2011 and 2012, members of the group in South Africa were accused of running romance scams and advance-fee schemes to defraud investors.

Starting in 2017, a man, who was supposedly working with the Black Axe, opened many bank accounts to conceal money that was secured from fraudulent schemes such as business email compromises.

[11] In March 2010, another fight broke out against the Maphite confraternity, resulting in the deaths of nine people In 2016, almost two dozen Black Axe members were arrested in Italy for "mafia conspiracy, drug trafficking, exploitation of prostitution and violent crimes.