By Sam Tyav, Makurdi
About 10 persons believed to be members of cult groups reportedly died on Sunday night during a clash in Akpehe axis of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
An eye witness account has it that killings in the area started on Friday when some youths, believed to be cult members, came on a motorcycle to Akpehe and shot dead a young man alleged to be a member of a rival cult group.
It was gathered that cult comrades of the shot man subsequently mobilized and unleashed a more serious attack on Sunday night.
Reports said they arrived in their numbers and attacked their opponents, killing about nine youths in the process.
Our checks showed that there was graveyard-like silence along the Abu King Shuluwa road, within the vicinity of the scene of the attack, as most residents shut themselves indoors for fear of the unknown.
Reached for her reaction, Benue State Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Sewuese Catherine Anene, confirmed the clash, but said four persons were killed during the attack.
According to the PPRO, it was a suspected case of cult attack at Akpehe, pointing out that investigation had commenced into the matter.
She explained that aside the four dead, others were currently receiving treatment in hospital.
According to the Police spokesperson, new Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Emenari Ifeanyi, has warned hoodlums greeting his arrival with crime, to desist from such acts as he would not tolerate such under his watch.
