Benue on Edge as Cult Clashes Kill Eight Across Makurdi, Otukpo, Gboko, Kwande
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Benue on Edge as Cult Clashes Kill Eight Across Makurdi, Otukpo, Gboko, Kwande
Tension has gripped Benue State following a wave of violent clashes between rival cult groups that have left no fewer than eight people dead across several communities, including Makurdi, Otukpo, Gboko and Jato Aka in Kwande Local Government Area.
Security sources said the clashes were triggered by an escalating struggle for territorial dominance among the rival groups. The violence first erupted in Otukpo, where one person was killed, before spreading to Gboko, where two others lost their lives. These incidents reportedly sparked fresh attacks in Makurdi and Jato Aka on Wednesday.
In Makurdi, eyewitnesses said the attackers carried out coordinated late-night shootings around the Wurukum area,killing three young men. The victims were identified as Mr. Hundred, who was shot near the Wurukum Mosque; Martins Dagba also known as Wonder, who was killed near Solace Hotels; and Aondoaseer Yisa, popularly called Poka, who was shot on Usman Street.
An eyewitness lamented that the attackers fled immediately after the shootings, describing the killings as a tragic reflection of the disregard for human life.
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Reacting to the incident, Makurdi Local Government Chairman, Joseph Keffi, condemned the killings, describing them as senseless acts carried out by suspected cult groups. In a statement issued through his media aide, he said the council was working closely with security agencies and community stakeholders to restore peace. He sympathised with the bereaved families and urged residents to remain law-abiding, vigilant and to report suspicious activities.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command confirmed a separate cult clash in Jato Aka, involving the Red and Black cult groups, which resulted in the death of two males and injuries to others. Police spokesperson DSP Udeme Edet said officers swiftly responded to the incident and arrested eight suspects, while others escaped.
She disclosed that police recovered a locally made pistol, an expended cartridge, two axes and two machetes from the scene. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects, adding that the Commissioner of Police remains committed to eradicating cultism and other forms of criminality across the state.
