Suspected Cultists Kill 8 In Benue

At least eight people have been reportedly killed in the early hours of Monday during a suspected cult attack in different locations of the High Level metropolis of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Our correspondent reports that the incident happened just six days after a similar attack at Agwan Jukun suburb of Makurdi metropolis where three persons were killed.

Witnesses claimed that the incident, which happened around 2am on Aliade, Onitsha and Owerri streets of Makurdi, sent shivers down the spine of residents in the area.

Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Area, Joseph Keffi, who also confirmed the incident to journalists in Makurdi, described the attack as “ugly” and “pathetic,” saying it occurred between 2am and 2:30am on Aliade Street in the High Level area of Makurdi.

Keffi said information available to him indicated that some armed youths riding on motorcycles stormed a compound where four persons were sleeping, called them out and shot them dead.

He added that four other persons who reportedly came out after hearing gunshots were also killed.

He said that the attack was linked to cult activities involving a suspected cult member from the North Bank area of Makurdi who allegedly fled to High Level after a clash with rival members.

“It is quite ugly and pathetic. The incident happened around 2am to 2:30am and it was cult-related. What I heard was that a cult member from North Bank had a clash with his group and ran to stay with his friend in High Level. The friends and relatives who were killed were not cult members, but because they accommodated the boy, they were attacked and killed,” he said.

The council chairman said he had reported the incident to security agencies, expressing hope that the perpetrators would be arrested.

He alleged that a suspect identified as Odinaka had been terrorising Makurdi and other parts of the state.

“This is someone who was once apprehended by the police and later released. We just hope the police will do due diligence and get him arrested,” he stated.

Keffi said the local government had continued to collaborate with security agencies and vigilante groups to tackle insecurity and cult related violence across Makurdi.

He added that security operatives swiftly responded to distress calls and cordoned off the area, but the attackers escaped.

Residents, however, said the corpses of the victims had been deposited at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital and Madonna Hospital mortuaries.

State Commissioner of Police, CP Ifeanyi Enemari, further confirmed the incident to journalists, noting, however, that six people were killed.(Daily trust)