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Beliefs

The Egbesu force can only be used in defence or to correct an injustice, and only by people who are in harmony with the universe. The symbol of the divine force is the leopard

Egbesu also plays an important role in the Ijaw hierarchy. It comprises of the Egbesu king, a high priest called Okparans, and priests and foot soldiers called Kulikuliwei. The custodians of philosophy, including the Okparans, view Egbesu as a just cause of war and

Current Practices

The ancient Egbesu cult of the Ijaws declined after the British occupation of the Ijaw lands in the late 19th century, and for some time most Ijaws only knew of the cult through folklore and traditional war song. In recent times, the Niger Delta conflict as transformed current practices around Egbesu to be centered around the war ethics and spiritual defence mechanism aspects. Militant groups have evoked Egbesu protection and war ethics in their fights against enemies.

The Ijaw's status as an ethnic minority and its location near oil sites places them in conflict with the Nigerian government and foreign oil corporations. Therefore, Ijaw socio-cultural and militant groups invoke Egbesu war ethics and power to protect them in the fight against the petroleum industry. Egbesu's meaning to these groups mainly focuses on the spiritual warfare mechanism that the concept offers as opposed to the just war philosophy. These powerful mechanisms include protection from the enemy bullets, which are initiated by and supported by mothers of the community, male elders, and priests. Youth militants also use white chalk to paint their faces and place medicated plant leaves on their foreheads for protection.

Militant Groups

Due to the conflict in the Niger Delta between oil corporations and Niger delta’s minority ethnic groups, including the Ijaws, multiple militant groups have emerged. A number of the groups are formed around the cult of Egbesu, including the Egebesu Boys or the Egbesu Boys of Africa, Red Egbesu Water Lions, Reformed Egbesu Boys of the Niger Delta, and the Egbesu Mightier Fraternity. These groups have both worked with and been in conflict with other groups. For example, the Egbesu Mightier Fraternity being involved in conflict with Boko Haram in 2012. These groups were also involved in the ongoing 2016 Niger Delta conflict, but have signed a ceasefire as of late August 2016.

Egbesu Boys

The Egbesu Boys emerged in the early 1990s, at the start of the Niger Delta conflict. The group took up arms to fight against authorities in the Niger Delta in response to environmental and other problems caused by oil exploitation, and lack of investment of oil revenue in the local economy. Many young men have joined the cult, undergoing secret initiations by powerful kariowei (priests) who impart the supernatural powers of Egbesu. The initiation involves the subject being etched with cicatrices on some hidden part of the body, and some members also wear amulets. The followers often believe the talisman and the cult initiations make them bulletproof. Reports of their activities include kidnapping of oil workers, sabotage of oil installations, and attacks on Nigerian authorities. However, it is difficult to attribute specific activities to the group because their members may also be a part of other militant groups. The group is active across six southeastern states in the Niger Delta Region, with their traditional headquarters are located in Amabulou, Bayelsa State.